Fears' decision resets Illinois' 2025 recruiting board

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CHAMPAIGN — Illinois built out its 2024-25 roster the last three months with two factors playing into nearly every new addition. Positional size was a must. Shooting was just as important.

Not included in that offseason restructuring with four players running out of eligibility and six players hitting the transfer portal was a reclassification from Jeremiah Fears. At least through April, May and June.

Fears apparently had other ideas.

The 6-foot-3 guard, who committed to Illinois in January, announced Monday afternoon he was reopening his recruitment.

Multiple reports indicate he is doing so with an eye on reclassifying and playing somewhere on the college basketball stage come November.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank the Illini nation for all the love and support they have given me and my family during my recruitment and after my commitment,” Fears wrote in a note posted to social media. “I’d like to express my appreciation to Coach (Brad) Underwood and his staff for their open communication and trust in me as a prospective next great guard to perform at State Farm Center.

“Please trust my full intention was to enter Champaign in the Class of 2025 and help contribute to the continued ascension in the (Big Ten). With that being said, after further consideration and meaningful conversations with my family, I’ll be reopening my recruitment and exploring other opportunities.”

Fears was on the Illinois campus as recently as the middle of last month, making a stop in Champaign after helping Team USA win gold at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup in Buenos Aires alongside now Illini freshman Morez Johnson Jr. Fears also worked out with current Illinois guards Ty Rodgers and Kylan Boswell in May in Joliet.

Illinois was ahead of the curve when it secured its commitment from Fears on Jan. 22 as one of the first big moves made in 2025 recruiting. Fears chose the Illini from a top five that, at the time, also included Providence, Kansas, Mississippi and Michigan.

The Wolverines, of course, have a new coaching staff with Dusty May replacing Juwan Howard. The other programs previously involved in Fears’ recruitment made various moves in the transfer portal to shore up their backcourts. The Friars added Miami’s Bensley Joseph, the Jayhawks added two in South Dakota State’s Zeke Mayo and Mississippi State’s Shakeel Moore and the Rebels did the same with Seton Hall’s Dre Davis and Virginia Tech’s Sean Pedulla.

Illinois’ 2025 recruiting efforts won’t start from scratch, but Underwood and Co. have a blank slate from a class standpoint. The Illini are pursuing five-star guard Jasper Johnson and had him on campus for a visit at the end of June. Fears’ decommitment might also open the door to further pursue other guards like four-star J.J. Mandaquit, who would have had more of a positional overlap with the Joliet native.

Fears is ranked as a five-star prospect in the Class of 2025 by ESPN and as a four-star recruit by On3, 247Sports and Rivals. The 6-foot-3 guard played at Compass Prep (Ariz.) last season after transferring from Joliet West where he was a 2023 News-Gazette All-State Second Team selection as a sophomore.

Fears helped Compass Prep post a 27-6 record and reach the quarterfinals of the Chipotle Nationals where he had 14 points, six rebounds and five assists in a loss to eventual champions Montverde Academy (Fla.).

Fears ran with Indy Heat on the Nike EYBL circuit this spring and put up 17.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 41 percent overall, 16 percent from three-point range and 83 percent at the free-throw line. He went on to average 6.5 points, 2.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds in his international debut for Team USA at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup.