Jeremy Fears' remarkable playmaking season has him chasing Big Ten history

For most point guards, the job description is simple: run the offense, distribute the ball, and keep teammates involved. That is not just something Michigan State point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. has done well – it has become his identity.

As the regular season has concluded, the Michigan State sophomore has assembled one of the most remarkable playmaking seasons in college basketball. With the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament still to play, Fears finds himself within striking distance of the Big Ten’s single-season assists record, needing just 33 more assists to break the mark.

The numbers speak for themselves. Fears currently leads the nation in assists per game at 9.1 and has amassed 281 assists this season, also the most in the country. His production has not only powered Michigan State’s offense, it has placed him firmly in the conversation for the best pure point guard in college basketball.

But statistics rarely tell the full story of a season like this. What makes Fears’ run special is the responsibility that has come with it.

When Michigan State lost guard Divine Ugochukwu for the season in early February, Fears’ role expanded even further. Nearly every possession begins in his hands. Almost every offensive set runs through him. And every opposing defense begins with the same objective – slow down the Spartan floor general.

Yet game after game, Fears has delivered.

His assist totals have steadily climbed toward record-breaking territory, placing him alongside some of the most iconic playmakers in Michigan State history.

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING