Tom Izzo’s Michigan State secured an 80-69 win over Colgate on Monday night. The game proved the Spartans’ ability to take control against a weaker opponent, but Izzo expressed strong frustration over his team’s missed free throws afterward.
Redshirt sophomore guard Jeremy Fears Jr. played a key role in the win. Meanwhile, his comeback story from recovering after a gunshot injury to helping guide his team to win continues to serve as an inspiring example for basketball players.
Tom Izzo Speaks on Jeremy Fears Jr.’s Transformation After the Gunshot Injury
In an interview with Robbie Hummel on NBC Sports last week, Izzo discussed Fears’ progress throughout his recovery from the gunshot injury.
“He’s improved his shooting. He’s improved his athleticism. I don’t think he realized how much that injury held him back,” Izzo said. “And as you know, you’ve been injured before. You miss a whole summer. Boy, it’s hard to get players get better in the summer, teams in the winter. If you don’t get better in the summer, it’s hard.”
“He’s been healthier than the day is long. He’s improving with Coen (Carr) on a wing now. We got some speed. We’ve got a couple of guards that we think can get up and down. But our bigs have some experience. (Carson) Cooper and (Jaxon) Kohler have been there a long time. And then we’ve got a couple of freshmen.”
Fears was shot in the femur just before Christmas 2023 near his hometown of Joliet. After undergoing surgery, he spent months in rehab and training. He ultimately beat the odds and returned strong enough to earn a starting role.
Before the injury, Fears was ranked as the top high school recruit in Illinois by 247Sports. He went on to start all games in the 2024 season, averaging 7.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
He continues to play a phenomenal role this season as well. In Monday’s win, Fears posted a double-double with 14 points, 10 assists, five rebounds, five steals, and just one turnover, going 4-of-10 from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 from the line.
In his postgame conference, Izzo compared Fears to former Spartan great Mateen Cleaves.
“Jeremy, as our leader, he’s got unbelievable stats,” Izzo said. “Those are unbelievable stats. In the first half, he didn’t lead our team to nothing, and he knows it. And in the second half, he did, and that was the big difference. But our best player is going to play well. He played pretty well.”
Up next, Michigan State will face No. 14 Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday.