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Jeff Borzello
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Pablo Biancardi
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Pablo Biancardi
Basketball recruiting
- National Recruiting Director for ESPN.com
- 18 years of coaching experience at the Division I level
- Former Horizon League Coach of the Year at Wright State
Five-star junior Jeremiah Fears announced his commitment to Illinois on Monday, giving Brad Underwood the top-ranked commitment in the 2025 class.
He is also Illinois' first five-star commitment since ESPN's recruiting database began in 2007.
Fears, the younger brother of Michigan State freshman guard Jeremy Fears Jr., chose the Fighting Illini over Providence, although Michigan, Kansas and Ole Miss were also on his final list.
“It's my hometown school. I want to win and be a hometown hero,” Fears told ESPN. “They've been recruiting me longer and harder, since eighth grade. I have a great relationship with Brad Underwood and the staff.”
Fears, a 6-foot-2 guard from Joliet, Illinois, who attends AZ Compass Prep (Arizona), is ranked No. 16 in the ESPN 60 for the 2025 class.
The Fears played in the Bradley Beal Elite grassroots program on the Nike EYBL circuit last spring and summer, averaging 9.9 points and 3.1 assists. He has also had a productive high school season, averaging 12.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in EYBL Scholastic games.
Fears is a confident scorer who is transitioning to the point guard position. He scores the ball with natural instincts, a burst of speed and the ability to get to the free throw line. He also has the potential to be an excellent on-ball defender.
He's the only commitment to Illinois in the 2025 class, but he's also just the second five-star junior committed at this point in the cycle. Before Fears' promise, No. 18 Aaron Rowe (Missouri) was the only five-star commitment.
