College basketball is still months away, but Michigan State fans are already looking straight at 2026-27, and it’s easy to see why. Tom Izzo has put together another elite roster, and with Jeremy Fears Jr. running the show, the Spartans have their best shot at a second national title in a decade.
That same setup is why Fears sits at the top of the Wooden Award conversation. Michigan State will open in the top five, the roster is loaded, and yet Fears is still the clear headliner. No Spartan has ever won the Wooden Award, but based on the way this season is being framed, it feels like his trophy to lose.
Here are the five candidates being floated:
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
John Blackwell, Duke
Thomas Haugh, Florida
Tyran Stokes, Kansas
David Mirkovic, Illinois
The Big Ten is getting a lot of love in this early look, and there’s room for more names to crash the race later. Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney could get involved at some point, with McKenney looking like the stronger possibility. John Blackwell also gets a major lift after moving from Wisconsin to Duke, a change that brings a Blue Devil bump but also gives him a chance to finally get the national attention he didn’t always receive with the Badgers.
Still, the center of the whole discussion is Fears. Several publications have already pegged him as the top returning player in college basketball, and Vegas has been high on his national player of the year chances since he announced his return in May.
That’s because Fears brings the kind of profile that turns heads at every level. He’s the country’s top point guard, and if the 3-point shot becomes reliable, he could end up as college basketball’s best player. The Wooden Award favorite, in other words, looks like a first-round NBA draft pick waiting to happen.
Enjoy him while he’s in East Lansing.
There’s not much to nitpick with Fears. Sure, some NBA teams may wish he were bigger at the point guard spot, but he covers for that with toughness, leadership and a competitive edge that can’t be coached into a player.
He brings a strong frame, a consistent mid-range jumper, confidence, a winning attitude and track record, lockdown defense, the ability to get under opponents’ skin, leadership skills, athleticism, elite passing, and a knack for getting to the rim and drawing fouls.
The one missing piece is the 3-point shot.
Fears knows that too, and it’s going to matter this season if he wants to keep pushing toward being a first-round pick in 2027. He’s already shown he can answer questions.
Now he has to do it again. If he lands somewhere around 35 percent from deep, NBA teams are going to be all over him.
In Other News...
Michigan State Just Entered A Brutal Fight For An Elite Guard
Michigan State has jumped into the chase for Antonio Pemberton, a four-star point guard in the 2027 class who has quickly become one of the more coveted guards on the board. The Spartans offer adds another major name to a resume that already includes 20 scholarship offers, and it comes with the kind of profile that makes recruiting battles escalate fast: Pemberton is ranked No. 35 overall, sits among the top point guards nationally, and is the top player in Massachusetts.
The timing matters, too, because Michigan State is not entering this one alone. UCLA and Kansas have already shown interest after the Spartans made their move, turning what looked like a strong early offer into a much tougher national pursuit. Pemberton has been standing out in summer showcases with the efficiency and playmaking that have drawn comparisons to established college and pro guards, which means this recruitment figures to stay crowded for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State May Have Finally Found Its Answer At Center
Michigan States search for stability in the middle of its offensive line has led to a veteran with a proven track record. A redshirt senior who started every game for his previous program, he arrives with the kind of experience and consistency the Spartans have been trying to add up front, and his rsum includes major recognition at the FCS level.
The appeal goes beyond just filling a spot. He has been one of the more decorated centers in his league, and his arrival gives Michigan State a legitimate chance to settle a position that has been a concern. The only real question now is how quickly that production and poise translate once he steps into a Power Four huddle. [Read more 🡒]