University of Oklahoma Athletics
Fears Named to Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List
January 07, 2025 | Men's Basketball
NORMAN — University of Oklahoma freshman guard Jeremiah Fears is one of 25 players on the Wooden Award Men's Midseason Watch List, it was announced Tuesday evening.
Selected by a group of college basketball experts, the midseason list comprises 25 student-athletes who are frontrunners for the Wooden Award All-America Team and the Wooden Award Most Outstanding Player honor.
Fears, a 6-4, 182-pounder from Joliet, Ill., ranks sixth nationally among freshmen and seventh overall in the SEC with his 17.9 points per game. He is also averaging 3.6 rebounds per contest and team highs of 4.4 assists and 2.2 steals, and ranks second in the conference with his 75 free throw makes and 89 attempts (shooting .843).
The two-time SEC Freshman of the Week was named to the Battle 4 Atlantis all-tournament team in late November after averaging 18.7 points, 5.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals over three games to help Oklahoma to victories over Providence, Arizona and Louisville. Included was a 26-point effort against No. 24 Arizona in the semifinals that featured a 4-for-7 performance from 3-point range and 8-for-8 shooting at the free throw line.
Against No. 24 Michigan in the Jumpman Invitational on Dec. 18 in Charlotte, Fears converted a four-point play with 11 seconds remaining for the final points in an 87-86 OU win. He was 8 for 12 from the field, 3 for 4 from behind the arc and 11 for 13 at the charity stripe en route to a career-high 30 points.
Fears is the first OU freshman since Trae Young in 2017-18 to score in double figures in each of his first 14 games. He has four performances of at least 20 points to his credit and three more with 18 or 19, helping the Sooners to a 13-1 record, their best start since the 2015-16 Final Four squad won 15 of its first 16 outings.
OU has produced two winners of the Wooden Award: forward Blake Griffin in 2008-09 and guard Buddy Hield in 2015-16.
The 2025 Wooden Award winner and All-Americans will be honored at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Friday, April 11, 2025.
Fears and the Sooners host No. 10/9 Texas A&M (12-2, 1-0 SEC) on Wednesday at 8 p.m. CT at Lloyd Noble Center. The game will be televised by SEC Network.
Selected by a group of college basketball experts, the midseason list comprises 25 student-athletes who are frontrunners for the Wooden Award All-America Team and the Wooden Award Most Outstanding Player honor.
Fears, a 6-4, 182-pounder from Joliet, Ill., ranks sixth nationally among freshmen and seventh overall in the SEC with his 17.9 points per game. He is also averaging 3.6 rebounds per contest and team highs of 4.4 assists and 2.2 steals, and ranks second in the conference with his 75 free throw makes and 89 attempts (shooting .843).
The two-time SEC Freshman of the Week was named to the Battle 4 Atlantis all-tournament team in late November after averaging 18.7 points, 5.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals over three games to help Oklahoma to victories over Providence, Arizona and Louisville. Included was a 26-point effort against No. 24 Arizona in the semifinals that featured a 4-for-7 performance from 3-point range and 8-for-8 shooting at the free throw line.
Against No. 24 Michigan in the Jumpman Invitational on Dec. 18 in Charlotte, Fears converted a four-point play with 11 seconds remaining for the final points in an 87-86 OU win. He was 8 for 12 from the field, 3 for 4 from behind the arc and 11 for 13 at the charity stripe en route to a career-high 30 points.
Fears is the first OU freshman since Trae Young in 2017-18 to score in double figures in each of his first 14 games. He has four performances of at least 20 points to his credit and three more with 18 or 19, helping the Sooners to a 13-1 record, their best start since the 2015-16 Final Four squad won 15 of its first 16 outings.
OU has produced two winners of the Wooden Award: forward Blake Griffin in 2008-09 and guard Buddy Hield in 2015-16.
The 2025 Wooden Award winner and All-Americans will be honored at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Friday, April 11, 2025.
Fears and the Sooners host No. 10/9 Texas A&M (12-2, 1-0 SEC) on Wednesday at 8 p.m. CT at Lloyd Noble Center. The game will be televised by SEC Network.
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