Jeremy Fears Jr. maintains positive outlook after shooting cut season short
Jeremy Fears Jr. chooses to look things through the positive lens, despite his freshman season at Michigan State being cut short after he was shot in the thigh over Christmas.
“It’s about not letting it get me down,” Fears said before open practice Wednesday in Charlotte, North Carolina. “This is a challenge in life you have to overcome. And I’ll be OK and it is what it is. Just be ready and keep getting better every day.”
Fears spoke with reporters Wednesday for the first time since he was one of two people who were shot in the early morning hours of Dec. 23 while cleaning up from a friendly get-together in his hometown of Joliet, Illinois, over a holiday break in Michigan State’s schedule.
Fears can’t remember what went through his mind when the shooting happened.
“Just shocking,” he said. “That was really all.”
Fears underwent a threehour procedure to remove the bullet lodged in his left thigh. He returned to campus less than a week later and has been present on the bench at every Michigan State home game — and most road games — since.
Tom Izzo has praised the progress Fears has made over the last three months. Fears is able to jog and run. He’s been going through the team’s full pre-game warmups in recent weeks and continues to do rehab to help improve his mobility.
The focus now is to get his strength back and “making sure I’m 100% and being able to do everything I was able to,” he said.
Fears believes he’ll be cleared of restrictions this summer.
Other than a broken finger in eighth grade, Fears said he’s never had an injury that has kept him out as long as this.
“I’ve learned a lot and seen a lot, so it’s helped me grow as a player and a person.”
Fears said he was “getting a flow” just before the incident. He posted a career-high 10 assists in the last game he played back in December before players dispersed for holiday break.
Michigan State plans to file a medical waiver for Fears so he can maintain his four years of eligibility after this season.
“Technically I’m a freshman, hopefully next year I’ll get that redshirt freshman year, so hopefully I’ll have a feel and have a flow so I kind of know what to expect from college basketball,” Fears said.