Jeremiah Fears previews decision, latest on Kentucky interest

Top-30 prospect Jeremiah Fears turned heads shortly after his decision to reopen his recruitment. Just hours removed from decommitting from Illinois, the four-star guard and reclass candidate announced Kentucky had reached out as his first confirmed contact.

The Wildcats have one final scholarship available and have made it clear they’re wide-open on how they’d like to use it. Could Fears be the guy? He’s ready to make a decision.

Jon Rothstein broke the news Fears would be committing on Saturday at 6:45 p.m. ET while also confirming his reclass plans, making the jump to 2024.

Source: Former Illinois commit Jeremiah Fears plans to announce his commitment on Saturday at 6:45 PM ET.

Fears is expected to reclassify from 2025 to 2024.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 20, 2024

KSR spoke with Fears ahead of his decision, the four-star guard breaking down the top schools in contention and where things stand with Kentucky going into the final hours.

“A lot of schools have reached out, probably Providence, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Arizona State and Illinois are the schools prioritizing me,” he told KSR. “(I decommitted from Illinois) to just explore my options, I feel like I committed early and I didn’t get to explore my options. I only took four official visits. That was the main reason.”

What about Mark Pope and the Wildcats? Is that possibility still on the table?

“I’m still interested, we talk from time to time,” he said. “They’ve been at a couple of my games, they were there for USA. We’ve built a pretty good relationship from the time I decommitted. It’s a good program, I watched them a lot growing up. I like their facilities — they’re off the charts — and the fans and their environment.”

Fears says all schools recruiting him are pushing for 2024 or 2025, ready for him whenever he’d like to join. He was non-committal about a reclass, but said that decision will be official sooner rather than later — publicly.

“I’m not sure yet, talking to my dad about it,” he said. “I’ll decide right after Peach Jam if I’ll be reclassing up or staying in 2025. It’ll depend on the opportunity that’s there. I want to go somewhere with a family culture and a good environment.”

What is the school he chooses getting in his commitment?

“They’re getting a dog. They’re getting a winner, a leader, a playmaker and a floor general,” he told KSR.

Oklahoma is the school to watch ahead of his decision, Kentucky slowing things down with the four-star guard as others have picked up their efforts. Meanwhile, NBA Global Academy center Julius Halaifonua is reclassifying from 2025 to 2024 and the Wildcats are seen as potential contenders to land his commitment.

One out, one in?