Jeremy Fears Jr. becomes Michigan State’s first All-American since Cassius Winston

For the first time since Cassius Winston was still in East Lansing, Michigan State has an All-American selection on its roster.

Like Cassius in 2019 and 2020, sophomore point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. has made the AP All-American second team.

He’s one of three Big Ten players on the second team along with Purdue’s Braden Smith and Illinois’ Keaton Wagler. Those two were also in the running for Big Ten Player of the Year with Fears as well as the player who won it, Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg. Another player who Michigan State beat this year, Caleb Wilson, also made the team.

That means that Fears is 3-0 against the players who made the All-American second team.

Being the first Michigan State All-American selection since COVID-19 is a huge honor because Fears is now just the 13th Spartan to make the first or second team. Next season, Fears will be trying to become the first Spartan to make the first team since Denzel Valentine did so back in 2016.

Having an AA usually bodes well for MSU in the NCAA tourney

Having an All-American on the roster usually means good things happen. Don’t believe me? Just look at how well the previous Spartan All-Americans fared in the NCAA Tournament under Izzo.

• Cassius Winston (2019, 2020) — Final Four, Big Ten champs
• Miles Bridges (2018) — Lost in second round
• Denzel Valentine (2016) — Lost in round one
• Draymond Green (2012) — Sweet 16
• Jason Richardson (2001) — Final Four
• Mateen Cleaves (1998, 1999, 2000) — Sweet 16, Final Four, national champs
• Morris Peterson (2000) — National champs

Out of the nine non-COVID-affected instances of a Spartan being selected as an All-American during the Izzo era, four players have made a Final Four. Only twice have the Spartans not made a Sweet 16 with All-Americans on the roster, and that was the shocking upset to Middle Tennessee and when the Syracuse zone frustrated Michigan State in 2018.

What can get Michigan State back to winning a national title? If I’m going just by the trends, it may take a second All-American. The only time Izzo had two All-Americans on the same roster was in 2000 and that team won it all.

If this isn’t Michigan State’s year, it’ll need someone other than Fears to step up as an All-American in 2026-27.

I may have cracked the national title code.

Just have multiple All-Americans. Duh.