Jeremy Fears Jr. just etched his name into Big Ten history - and he did it in style.
On Saturday, the Michigan State sophomore point guard delivered a performance that was both dazzling on the stat sheet and commanding on the court. Fears dropped 17 points and dished out 17 assists in a dominant win, becoming the first player in Big Ten history to record at least 17 points and 17 assists in a single game, according to ESPN Insights. Let that sink in: in a conference that’s produced legends at the point guard position, no one - not Magic, not Mateen, not Cassius - has ever done what Fears just did.
And it wasn’t just a flashy box score. Fears’ 17 dimes tied for the second-most in a single game in Michigan State history, a mark that speaks to both his vision and his control of the game.
He didn’t force the issue. He orchestrated it.
Every pass had a purpose, and every possession flowed through him like a conductor leading an orchestra. The Spartans didn’t just win - they rolled to a 43-point blowout, and Fears was the engine behind it.
This wasn’t a one-off, either. Over his previous six games, Fears had already been on a tear, averaging over 17 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, all in double-digit victories.
That’s not just consistency - that’s leadership. And with performances like Saturday’s, it’s becoming harder to ignore the comparisons to past Spartan greats like Mateen Cleaves and Cassius Winston.
As a sophomore, Fears is already starting to resemble the kind of floor general who can carry a team deep into March.
What’s made his rise even more impressive is how he’s embraced the responsibility that comes with being the guy. Michigan State entered the season with a few question marks - namely, how the pieces would fit together and whether the outside shooting would hold up.
Through 20 games, those concerns have faded. The Spartans are shooting better than 35 percent from beyond the arc, and the chemistry?
It’s clicking. This team is playing for each other, and Fears is at the heart of it.
He’s not just putting up numbers - he’s holding teammates accountable, setting the tone defensively, and leading by example. That’s the kind of leadership Tom Izzo has built his program around.
Fears fits that mold perfectly: tough, unselfish, and relentless. He’s the type of player who makes everyone around him better, the kind of point guard who doesn’t just run the offense - he elevates it.
Before the season, there were questions about whether Fears could take the leap from promising freshman to elite sophomore. Those questions have been answered. He’s not just one of the best point guards in the Big Ten - he’s one of the best in the country.
And if he keeps playing like this, don’t be surprised if Michigan State is still dancing deep into March. Because with Jeremy Fears Jr. leading the way, this team has the look of a national title contender.