When the season tipped off, the conversation around Michigan State basketball came with a familiar refrain: plenty of talent, sure, but no clear-cut future NBA stars. Jaxon Kohler and Coen Carr had some buzz, but the consensus was that they’d need to make serious strides to get on the radar of pro scouts. Fast forward a few months, and that narrative is getting flipped on its head.
Kohler and Carr have both shown flashes of NBA potential, but they’re not alone anymore. Carson Cooper and Jeremy Fears Jr. have entered the chat - and they’re not just getting noticed, they’re generating real NBA buzz.
Let’s start with Cooper. Six months ago, he wasn’t even a blip on most draft boards.
Now? He’s showing the kind of defensive versatility that NBA teams covet in modern bigs.
At 7 feet tall, Cooper moves with the fluidity of a wing. He can step out and defend on the perimeter, stay in front of guards, and still protect the rim.
That’s not just rare - it’s gold in today’s league. Add in his ability as a lob threat and you’ve got a player who’s suddenly a lot more than just a role guy.
He’s becoming the kind of two-way big who can anchor a defense and finish plays above the rim.
But the biggest leap might belong to Jeremy Fears Jr.
Fears is having the kind of season that turns heads - and turns doubters into believers. He’s averaging 17 points and 8 assists on 48% shooting in Big Ten play, including back-to-back games where he put up 23 and 13.
And he’s doing it all while locking up defensively. One Big Ten analyst even floated the idea that Fears could “mess around” and sneak into the first round of the draft if he keeps this pace up.
Now, let’s pump the brakes just a bit - Fears still has work to do, especially when it comes to his jumper. The consistency from deep isn’t quite there yet.
But if he keeps trending this way, it’s easy to imagine him testing the waters sooner rather than later. Even if he doesn’t make the leap this year, he’s putting himself firmly in the conversation for the future.
What makes Fears’ rise even more remarkable is the road he’s taken to get here. Last season, he missed the entire second half of his freshman year after being shot in the leg during a visit home over Christmas break.
Coming back from an injury like that - both physically and mentally - is no small feat. But Fears didn’t just return.
He rebuilt. He refined.
And now, he’s leading.
As a redshirt freshman, Fears was solid. He ran the offense, played tough defense, and helped guide the Spartans to a Big Ten title.
But this year? He’s taken command.
He’s become the heart of a team currently ranked No. 7 in the country and sitting just one win away from the best start in program history.
His numbers tell the story. He’s nearly doubled his scoring from 7.2 to 14.1 points per game.
His assists are up from 5.4 to 8.9. His field goal percentage has jumped from just under 40% to over 45%.
And while his three-point shooting has dipped slightly, his free throw shooting has gone from solid to elite - from 73% to a lights-out 90%.
The growth is undeniable. The leadership is real.
And the NBA interest? It’s only going to keep growing if Fears continues to play like this.
Michigan State came into the year with questions about its star power. Now, it’s got answers - and maybe even a few future pros in the making.