By ADAM ZAGORIA
Jeremiah Fears, the 4-star combo guard from Arizona Compass Prep, announced his commitment to Illinois on Monday.
Ranked the No. 8 combo guard in the Class of 2025 by 247Sports.com, Fears also considered Kansas, Providence, Michigan and Ole Miss.
“I will be committing to the University of Illinois,” he told ESPN’s Paul Biancardi on Instagram Live. “I talk the coaches. They were just talking about they feel I would be a great fit, a great addition to the team and how hopefully I will be ready to embrace a big role.”
He added of coach Brad Underwood: “We have a really good relationship. He calls me I want to say every 2-3 days, he always texts me, checking up. So I would say we have a pretty good relationship.”
He visited Illinois last September, and most recently canceled a visit to Michigan set for Feb. 3.
Fears is the first commit for Underwood and his staff in 2025, but said he is “definitely going to work on my guy” AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2025, as well as his teammate Cam Miles, a Class of 2025 point guard. Jeremy Fears, Jeremiah’s older brother, is at Michigan State. “[I’ve learned] just how to be a point guard,” he said. “I feel like he’s a great point guard. He calls me after every game and tells me what I could’ve done better.” Said Arizona Compass Prep coach Pete Kaffey: “Jeremiah ‘s a point guard that can facilitate at a high-level. He’s an elite defender that can rebound for his size and play-make for his teammate. He can score the ball all three levels. Jeremiah has the potential to play at the next level one day.” (This post was updated on Jan. 21.) Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on InstagramAnd Like ZAGS on FacebookPrediction: @IlliniMBB https://t.co/NrLn2rR3hg
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) January 22, 2024
