Pelicans take Fears with No. 7 pick
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The New Orleans Pelicans picked Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears with the seventh overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday.
Fears was a force in his lone season at Oklahoma, earning SEC All-Freshman team honors. He finished top 10 in both points and assists per game across the conference and led the Sooners to their first March Madness appearance in four years.
Bio
Position: Guard
School: Oklahoma
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 180
Wingspan: 6-foot-5
Max vertical: 36.5 inches
2024-25 statistics at Oklahoma:
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 43.4 | 28.4 | 85.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 17.1 |
Fears has a high ceiling, showcasing elite ball-handling and shot creation in his single collegiate campaign. Despite his smaller frame, he attacked the paint at will because of his ability to create off the dribble. At 6-foot-2, Fears emerged as a defensive disruptor, averaging 1.6 steals per contest.
The biggest critique of Fears' game is his inconsistent shooting, particularly from deep. However, at 18 years old, he has the time to work on his jumper as he prepares to join the NBA.
NBA comparison: Derrick Rose. The similarities between Fears and the 2010-11 MVP cannot be ignored. They both possess unreal ability to attack down low and are explosive toward the rim. They're also below-average shooters who can find other ways to get the ball in the basket.