Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. Earns CBS Sports All-American Honors

Spartans point guard recognized as one of the nation's top players after breakout season.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 12:05am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fragmented movements and energy of a basketball game, with the players' forms broken down into abstract shapes and planes of vibrant colors.Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. earns national recognition for his standout sophomore season, cementing his status as one of college basketball's rising stars.East Lansing Today

Michigan State sophomore point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. has been named a CBS Sports Third Team All-American, adding to his growing list of accolades this season. Fears led the nation in assists per game (9.4) while also doubling his scoring average to 15.2 points per contest, helping the Spartans reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

Fears' selection as a CBS Sports All-American further cements his status as one of the premier young talents in college basketball. As a key piece of Michigan State's roster, his continued development could make the Spartans a preseason national title contender next season if he chooses to return to East Lansing.

The details

Fears was the only Michigan State player named to the CBS Sports All-American teams, landing on the third team. Purdue's Braden Smith was selected to the second team just ahead of Fears. In his breakout sophomore campaign, Fears led the nation in assists per game while also significantly increasing his scoring output from the previous season.

  • Fears was named a CBS Sports All-American this week.
  • He was also recently selected to the Wooden All-America team.

The players

Jeremy Fears Jr.

A sophomore point guard at Michigan State University who had a standout season, leading the nation in assists per game while doubling his scoring average.

Braden Smith

A junior guard at Purdue University who was named to the CBS Sports Second Team All-American, finishing just ahead of Fears Jr.

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What they’re saying

“Fears finished the season with the most assists per game (9.4) in college basketball. He doubled his scoring (15.2 points) from last season and improved in all areas. Fears' breakout season helped Michigan State reach the Sweet 16.”

— Cameron Salerno, CBS Sports Writer

What’s next

Fears has at least one more year of eligibility remaining, with many Spartans hoping he'll return for next season and make Michigan State a preseason national championship contender.

The takeaway

Jeremy Fears Jr.'s selection as a CBS Sports All-American is a testament to his remarkable growth and development as Michigan State's floor general. His ability to distribute the ball and score efficiently makes him one of the most valuable point guards in the country, and his continued presence could elevate the Spartans to new heights next season.