Trae Young, the most famous recent point guard from Oklahoma, has fully supported Jeremiah Fears, the Sooners’ latest star, calling him a guaranteed lottery pick ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft. Young’s endorsement only adds to the growing buzz around Fears’ NBA future.
Oklahoma Point Guard Legacy and Trae Young’s Endorsement of Jeremiah Fears
Both Young and Fears share a unique bond as Oklahoma point guards who burst onto the college basketball scene as freshmen and quickly became the faces of their program.
In Young’s only season at Oklahoma, 2017-18, he averaged 27.4 points and eight assists per game. He set such a high bar for freshman point guards in Norman that it will be hard for anyone else to top. Fear follows in his mentor’s heels, and Young is behind him.
When asked about Fears’ NBA prospects, Young responded confidently:
“He’s going to be a lottery pick. I don’t think it’s an ‘if’—he’s a lottery pick. It’s just a matter of what team he goes to. We’ve been talking a little bit throughout this draft process, and I just want him to go in there, enjoy the draft night, and understand that all the work starts after that. He’ll be fine and enjoy wherever he goes. I’m excited for him.”
The 18-year-old arrived at Oklahoma as a highly touted recruit, reclassifying to join the Sooners a year early and immediately stepping into a starring role. In his freshman season, Fears averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.
Fear’s explosive first step, elite speed, and advanced playmaking ability have drawn comparisons to NBA scorer Monta Ellis, with ESPN draft analysts projecting him as high as the No. 5 pick in the upcoming draft.
Young emphasized the unique readiness of “one-and-done” Oklahoma point guards, saying, “When you’re a one-and-done point guard out of Oklahoma, there’s just something about it—maybe you’re just ready.” He praised Fears’ competitiveness and maturity, noting, “He got us a lot of wins this year too.”
KEEP READING: NBA Draft Insider Offers Bold All-Star Comparison For Oklahoma Freshman Sensation Jeremiah Fears
Trae Young’s path from Oklahoma star to NBA lottery pick and All-Star provides a blueprint that Fears follows. Both guards electrified Norman with their scoring and playmaking, and both are set to become top NBA Draft selections. Young said, “He’ll be fine and enjoy wherever he goes. I’m excited for him.”
With Young’s endorsement and a standout freshman campaign behind him, Fears is poised to continue the Oklahoma point guard legacy at the next level. All signs indicate his name being called early on draft night—a testament to his talent and the Sooners’ growing reputation as a point guard factory.
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