Jeremy Fears Jr. posted his second double-double of the 2025-26 season with 18 points and 11 assists, leading Michigan State to its fifth straight win, an 84-56 victory over Detroit Mercy on Friday at Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan.
None of this would have been possible without the recruiting efforts of Mark Montgomery, Michigan State’s former assistant coach and now the head coach at Detroit Mercy. His actions in January 2022 led to the 6’2″Â guard’s commitment to the Spartans, setting the stage for Fears’ impact in the 2025-26 season.
Tom Izzo Credits Detroit Mercy HC for Recruiting Jeremy Fears Jr.
After the game, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo praised Fears’ all-around play and expressed belief that the point guard is getting better as the season wears on.
“I think he’s just starting to come into his own. He’s still got to get a little better defensively,” Izzo said. “There were a couple times he got after it like I think he can. I think we got to get that (Fears’ performance) a little more consistent. So does he. But I felt good that I think he’s playing under control.”
Izzo then expressed gratitude to former assistant Montgomery for his role in Fears’ recruitment.
“I will thank him. I won’t let him (Montgomery) take him (Fears), but I’ll thank him because he did do a good job recruiting him,” the national champion coach said.
Montgomery played for Michigan State from 1988 to 1992, contributing to the 1990 Big Ten Championship. He returned in 2002 as Izzo’s assistant coach and was promoted to associate head coach in 2007.
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He helped the Spartans reach the Final Four in 2005, 2009, and 2010. Montgomery became head coach at Northern Illinois in 2011, then returned to MSU as recruiting coordinator and assistant coach from 2021 to 2024. Detroit Mercy hired him as head coach in April 2024 after parting ways with Mark Davis. In his first season, he went 8-24.
Fears Says Izzo’s Coaching Style Fits Him
Fears, a former four-star recruit, chose the Spartans over offers from Illinois and Michigan on January 6, 2022. He said Izzo’s coaching style suits him and expressed his desire to learn under the veteran coach’s guidance.
“He gets on his players, whether they play good or bad,” Fears said. “I like that because I know he cares. When it comes to being coached, I try not to listen to the tone; I try to get the point of the message. I want to learn my position and the game from him. Plus, off the court Coach Izzo is a caring and social guy, and is easy to talk to.”
Izzo, for his part, said he is impressed with his point guard’s outstanding performance this season. He noted that the Joliet, Illinois, native is emerging as the elite playmaker every team covets.
Building on Izzo’s praise, the sophomore guard is repaying his coach’s trust by leading the Spartans to a 5-0 record this season. He is averaging 11.8 points, four rebounds, 10.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. Fears is shooting 43.6% from the field, including 41.7% from the 3-point line, and 90.9% from the free throw line.
