4-star PG Jeremiah Fears commits to Illinois

Jeremiah Fears, a four-star prospect in the 2025 class, has committed to Brad Underwood and the University of Illinois.

The 6-foot-3 point guard originally from Joliet, Ill. chose the Fighting Illini over a final group of Providence, Kansas, Ole Miss, and Michigan.

Fears, currently playing his high school ball out west at Arizona Compass Prep, is the first commitment for Illinois in the 2025 cycle.

Fears on his commitment to Illinois

In an interview with On3, Jeremiah Fears detailed his decision to choose the Illini.

“I chose Illinois because I felt it was the best fit for me,” he said. “It’s my home state and the coaches have been recruiting me since I was in the 8th grade. I feel like most people think if you are a high level player you have to go to a blue blood to be successful. I want to show everybody you can do it from anywhere especially your home state. Hometown Hero.”

Fears has a message for Illinois fans.

“I’m staying home to try to win a National Championship. I’m a dog, a very hard worker and a natural born winner.”

Scouting Report

“Jeremiah Fears is a compact and confident guard. He plays with a lot of burst, on both ends of the floor. Fears has a confident handle and uses his burst to get to his spots. He plays balanced with an ability to rise up and knock down shots at each level. He is more of a score first guard than a point guard. Fears is a good on ball defender at the point of attack. Some could question the size. There is an undeniable competitive fire in there.” – On3’s Jamie Shaw

According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Fears is ranked as the No. 35 overall prospect in the 2025 cycle. He’s also the No. 5 point guard and the No. 2 player in Arizona. The On3 Industry Ranking is a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.