Michigan State basketball: Jeremy Fears Jr. spotted getting pregame shots up

Not many freshmen go through what Jeremy Fears Jr. has gone through with Michigan State basketball. Injuries do happen, but his is a different case. He was at a friend's house over Christmas break when someone opened fire and hit him in the thigh -- not exactly how he expected to spend his short time away from hoops.

Since then, all Fears has wanted to do is hoop.

Unfortunately, he had to go through the physical therapy to even be able to get the strength back to walk again and everyone kind of assumed he would be done for the year. His conditioning would not be able to return to normal and he probably wouldn't be able to run for a while.

Those perceptions and assumptions changed a little on Tuesday night when his father, Jeremy Fears Sr., posted a video of him getting shots up with Davis Smith prior to the Michigan game.

While he's not lifting off of his leg yet and his shots are not yet "jump" shots, it's good to see him bending and getting his touch back. Just seeing him stand without crutches is a refreshing sight. This just goes to prove Tom Izzo's statement recently when he said that Fears is improving at a rapid and almost shocking pace.

When Izzo said that, he also couldn't rule out a return for the freshman point guard this season.

It was just over a month ago when Fears suffered this horrible injury and he's already back on the court getting shots up after grueling physical therapy and surely some mental roadblocks.

It's good to see him getting out there and looking healthy.