"Doing things that I never thought he’d do": Michigan State HC Tom Izzo provides update on Jeremy Fears Jr.'s injury as Spartans eye medical redshirt
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo gave an encouraging update on the Spartans' star point guard, Jeremy Fears Jr. In December, Fears Jr. suffered a gunshot wound in his leg while he was in his hometown of Joliet, Illinois, which saw him suffer non-life-threatening injuries.
Following immediate surgery after the incident, Fears went through rehab and recovery. Izzo gave an update on the point guard's current situation, via On3:
"Jeremy has had unbelievable progress. He’s shooting now, doing things that I never thought he’d do.
"He’s 99 percent, 98 percent. His shooting’s still a little question mark right now, but as far as athletic — he got hit today and it was in the thigh and he gets sore when he does that."
This is certainly encouraging news for Spartans fans.
Michigan State's Tom Izzo discusses the possibility of a redshirt for Jeremy Fears Jr.
While addressing Jeremy Fears Jr.'s rehab, Tom Izzo also addressed the possibility of getting a medical redshirt for the point guard. He revealed they will attempt to get one, although he is unsure of whether Fears Jr. will need it or not.
"Yeah. We’re going to try to do that,” said Izzo via On3. “I don’t know if he’ll ever use it or need it. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future.
“He’s somewhere in that one game, which, I mean, right now? We give a guy – I think we’ve got 40 year olds playing in some football leagues."
Fears Jr. was one of the top high school prospects coming into Michigan State. He helped Joliet West reach the Class 4A Sectional Finals with a 28-6 record while averaging 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game in his senior year. His performances won him the MaxPreps Illinois High School Basketball Player of the Year award.
Prior to his injury last December, Fears Jr. put up decent numbers for the Spartans. He took part in 12 games while recording 3.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Across those 12 games, he averaged 15.3 minutes per game.
With Jeremy Fears Jr.'s recovery going well, Izzo will expect him to play a bigger role in his sophomore season next year following the departures of AJ Hoggard and Tyson Walker this year.