Oklahoma 5-star freshman Jeremiah Fears impresses with 30 points in tournament partnered by Michael Jordan's brand
It would make sense for players to have huge scoring performances in tournament-styled games. This was the case for Jeremiah Fears of the No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners, who went off in the Jumpman Invitational sponsored by Michael Jordan's brand.
In an 87-86 win over the No. 24 Michigan Wolverines on Wednesday, Fears put the opposing defense on their heels all game. In 34 minutes, he finished with 30 points, four assists and three rebounds on 8-of-12 shooting, including 3 of 4 from beyond the arc.
It was a back-and-forth affair between the teams, with Michigan taking a 43-38 halftime lead before Oklahoma escaped with the victory. Knocking down the game-winner, Fears played a crucial role in the win with his scoring explosion, prompting a short but clear comment from Slam's Instagram page.
"5-star freshman activities," the Slam account posted.
Jeremiah Fears reflects on game-winner for Oklahoma victory
Getting a 3-pointer to go down in the final seconds of a game, on top of drawing a foul for an and-one opportunity, was a big moment for Jeremiah Fears to take in. He looked back on the moment after the game.
“Coach looked at me and told me to make a play. It means a lot, especially as a young player," Fears told ESPN.
“I felt good, just being able to help my team get the W. A lot of people didn’t believe in us going into the game, and I think that motivated us in the game.”
Thanks to Fears' efforts, the No. 14 Sooners (11-0) protected their undefeated record. They are putting up 82.0 points per game on 47.8% shooting (37.4% from beyond the arc). On defense, they are giving up 67.7 ppg on 42.7% shooting (27.1% from downtown).
Fears leads the Sooners in scoring with 17.9 points while getting 4.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game. Jalon Moore follows suit with 17.4 ppg and 6.0 rpg, while Duke Miles puts up 10.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.1 assists and 1.9 steals.
Coming off a huge win against a ranked opponent, Jeremiah Fears and the Sooners will look to keep the momentum going when they host Central Arkansas at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma, at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.