Jeremy Fears Jr. leads Associated Press preseason All-America team
Jeremy Fears Jr. earned top honors on the Associated Press preseason All-America men’s basketball team released Wednesday in East Lansing. The voting makes Michigan State a frontrunner to win its first national championship in 27 years.
Fears received 57 votes from a 58-person media panel. He put off the NBA in hopes of leading the Spartans to a title.
The other players selected to the national preseason team include:
- Thomas Haugh, Florida forward, 56 votes
- Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt guard, 43 votes
- David Mirkovic, Illinois forward, 24 votes
- Motiejus Krivas, Arizona center, 17 votes
Fears averaged 15.2 points and a nation-leading 9.4 assists during his second season starting. The 6-foot-2 guard from Joliet, Illinois, withdrew from the NBA draft. His return placed Michigan State at No. 6 in the preseason Top 25 poll. He was a second-team All-American last season.
“I think we have the pieces” Fears said. “We’ve kind of got a lot of everything and my job is to get them the ball.”
Haugh returned to Gainesville for a chance to win a second straight national title. The 6-foot-9 forward from New Oxford, Pennsylvania, postponed entering the draft as a potential lottery pick. He led Florida with 17.1 points per game last year.
Florida enters as the runaway choice at No. 1 in the preseason poll. Haugh returns alongside core teammates Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu and Denzel Aberdeen.
“It’s national championship or bust for this team,” Haugh said. “But we’re mature enough. We have a really old group now, so I think we’re going to be really comfortable coming in this season.”
National Stars Return to Campus
Tanner became the only player in the country to average 19 points, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals. He posted 19.5 points, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game. The 6-foot guard from Brentwood, Tennessee, helped Vanderbilt earn its first preseason ranking since 2015 at No. 24.
“There’s not a more valuable player in the country,” Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington said. “Just everything that he can do on the court, off the court, what he means to me, what he means to Vanderbilt. I’m glad we got year three with him.”
Mirkovic averaged 13.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists last year after moving from SC Derby. The 6-foot-9 forward from Niksic, Montenegro, had offseason foot surgery. Illinois reached the Final Four for the first time since 2005.
His return alongside twin brothers Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic earned Illinois a No. 3 ranking. That marks the program’s highest spot since 2001.
“He’s got great charisma and great sense of humor, when you get to know him, you find out how intelligent he is, an unbelievable quick wit to him,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. “Then you step across the line and he’s that guy that just wants to rip your throat out and compete. I’m excited for the world to get to know him.”
Krivas helped Arizona reach its first Final Four in 25 years. The 7-foot-2 Lithuanian averaged 10.4 points and 8.2 rebounds last season. He finished 17th nationally with 73 blocked shots.
Opponents shot 36.7% with Krivas on the floor, according to CBB Analytics. That mark was the lowest in the country. He bypassed the draft to return to Tucson.
“He’s got more experience now and he’s had more success, which comes with more confidence,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. “This team needs that out of him. We’re going to need him to be a double-double type of guy on a nightly basis.”
College basketball teams hold preseason practices ahead of the winter schedule. Roster selections determine early tournament positioning.
The votes were tallied by national media members ahead of the opening games.
