Michigan State’s best teams have all had elite point guard play. That’s just something you need in college basketball to win big, and the Spartans may have another elite point guard on its hands.
At least Tom Izzo thinks so.
Well, if you’ve looked at social media lately, everyone seems to think the Spartans have an elite point guard — and that’s because they do. Jeremy Fears Jr. leads the nation in assists per game, and he only has 13 turnovers to 61 assists through six games. That’s one heck of an assist-to-turnover ratio.
Izzo has been very complimentary of his sophomore point guard, saying that he can “become the next Mateen” in East Lansing. That statement made it sound like Izzo saw the potential of Fears becoming Mateen, but he’s just not quite there yet. It now sounds like he’s getting closer in Izzo’s eyes, especially after hearing the Hall of Fame head coach talk about his point guard after a win over East Carolina.
"Good quarterbacks get you to Final Fours. Good quarterbacks get you to win championships."
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) November 25, 2025
Tom Izzo on Jeremy Fears Jr.'s development as a player for the Spartans 🙌 pic.twitter.com/06OPspFKnU
Izzo said that good quarterbacks lead you to Final Fours and championships, and he insinuated that Fears is on that level. He said that he’s becoming a good quarterback, but every time Izzo talks about him, he almost forgets that he’s gushing about him and has to rein it in and make sure to include a hint of criticism. He was insinuating that Fears could lead Michigan State to a Final Four and championships, and then quickly added that he wants him to get back to playing good defense.
Obviously Fears has been a pretty solid defender all season, but there’s definitely room for improvement, and he would tell you that. This mentality is exactly why Fears is a special player.
Only the elite guards that have come through the program have been able to play at an elite level while still holding themselves accountable along the way. It’s a rare trait, and Fears has it.
Fears is going to face another stiff test on Thursday when the Spartans take on No. 16 North Carolina to conclude the Fort Myers Tip-Off. Another 9-10 assist game against the Tar Heels would put the nation on notice, if it isn’t already. He looks like a potential All-American point guard, and he’s on pace to join an exclusive list of Spartan legends.