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From OU to the NBA: Jeremiah Fears selected No. 7 overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in NBA Draft

Bob Przybyloby: Bob Przybylo06/26/25BPrzybylo
Jeremiah Fears37
Former OU guard Jeremiah Fears. (Brad Penner - Imagn Images)

He knew he was good enough from the start, but there were moments of doubt when people wondered about Jeremiah Fears.

Those moments are long gone. The former OU star silenced them time and time again, earning Wednesday night.

Fears was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans with the No. 7 overall pick of the first round in the NBA Draft on Wednesday night in New York.

He becomes the first NBA Draft selection from OU since Trae Young seven years ago. Fears will be hoping for that same type of impact Young has had with the Atlanta Hawks.

Fears in 2024-25

Fears averaged 17.1 points per game, with 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists. He shot 43 percent from the field, 85 percent from the free throw line, had 1.6 steals and played more than 30 minutes per game.

The story

Fears took a chance on himself when he decided to reclassify from the 2025 to the 2024 class. He was a borderline five-star guy for 2025, but he wanted to test himself even earlier.

OU became the destination, thanks in large part to the family relationship OU head coach Porter Moser had built through the years. You knew he would be good, but nobody was quite sure how good and how the Sooners would use him.

Fears lit up Norman and gave everyone a reason to tune in for Sooners basketball. Not just his individual success, but helping get OU to the NCAA Tournament.

His court vision, pace of play. Fears kept checking off box after box to show he was ready for the next level. He will have to, of course, work on his perimeter shooting, but he played with that fearless mindset.

Fears is still growing and getting stronger. Never been afraid of contact and a strong ability to finish at the rim. It will be a lot of fun to see where things go from here for Fears.

Best game

No. 1: vs. Michigan, 87-86. Fears was an NBA name by this point. But this performance? Well, it made him a lottery guy. He never looked back. Fears helped OU overcome a double-digit deficit in the second half for an incredible neutral site victory. It all culminated with Fears completing a four-point play in the final seconds for the win.  He had 30 points, four rebounds and three assists in his season-defining moment. He was a solid first-round pick, around the 20s at this moment. Following this game? He rose up those charts, and it became about just how high he could go.

They said it…

“He’s going to be a lottery pick. Just a matter of what team he goes to. We’ve been talking a little bit during this process. All the work starts after that. He will be fine. When you’re a one-and-done guard from Oklahoma, there’s just something about it. I like his competitiveness. Got us a lot of wins this year.” – Young

“Think he’s ready because of his journey. His work ethic is impeccable. He’s durable. His growth in the SEC, watching his growth, grew and learned and got better, got stronger and did it against the best league under the NBA. Ready because of that work ethic and drive.” – OU head coach Porter Moser

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