We’re about a year out from the 2027 NBA Draft still, but it’s never too early to look at which Michigan State basketball players could be on their way to the league with a successful season.
After flirting with the 2026 NBA Draft, Jeremy Fears Jr. feels like the most likely candidate on the current roster to take that next step after the season outside of the obvious seniors who’ll be leaving like Anton Bonke and Coen Carr.
Fears entered his name into the draft while maintaining his eligibility and no fans were really all that surprised. This was just a normal step in the process of development where these guys know that they’re not quite ready yet, but they want the feedback from NBA executives and scouts. They go through the process, receive feedback, and head into the next season with clear goals and improvements in mind.
These guys usually always improve on key areas and then they’re ready to take the next step that next offseason. Fears, however, nearly felt like he improved enough through the draft process and during his sophomore year that he was ready for the leap.
Ultimately, he decided it was in his best interest to stay and he alluded to the fact that Tom Izzo was always loyal to him, so he has to return the favor. He realized that he would’ve been making a mistake.
However, there’s a good chance that he stays in the 2027 NBA Draft next offseason, especially if he’s projected as a first-rounder. He nearly stayed in as a second-round, at best, projection so I can only imagine that he’s gone if he’s given that Day 1 grade.
Well, one college hoops expert has Fears — rightfully — projected as a first-rounder in 2027.
2027 Early NBA Draft Big Board pic.twitter.com/NAEgz2R8yP
— ᗩᑎT ᗯᖇIGᕼT (@itsAntWright) July 2, 2026
Ant Wright projects Fears as the No. 24 prospect in his 2027 draft class, making him a projected first-rounder next year. If this holds up, or even improves, you may as well get the Fears farewell card ready because he’ll be surely gone after the 2026-27 season.
He’s ranked ahead of fellow Big Ten players like Michigan’s Trey McKenney (No. 30) and Brandon McCoy (28), and Nebraska’s Pryce Sandfort (26). Fears is also right ahead of former Michigan State recruiting target, Maximo Adams (25).
And, honestly, he should be ranked this high — or even higher.
Jeremy Fears Jr. is the best returning player in college basketball
This isn’t just my opinion, but the opinion of several college basketball experts who have ranked him at the top of their returning players lists.
Fears is an All-American point guard who’s about to lead a borderline top-five team in 2026-27. He was the nation’s assists per game leader and he averaged about 15 points per game. Not only that, but he was one of the best defenders in the Big Ten and he had one of the most improved mid-range jumpers in the country. And he’s only going to improve his jumper in 2026-27.
Michigan State has not only the nation’s best point guard, but the top returning player in the entire country for the 2026-27 season.
I don’t care how big he is, Fears is a great athlete, an elite leader, and a player of the year frontrunner, and he should absolutely be considered one of the top 30 players in college basketball.
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