NBA Scout Shades Jeremiah Fears, At 'Times I Think He’s a Baby. He Gets Frustrated'

Despite being a projected lottery pick in next week's 2025 NBA draft, Oklahoma freshman guard Jeremiah Fears is facing questions about his maturity level.

The Athletic's David Aldridge spoke to an Eastern Conference scout who called out Fears for his lack of composure on the court at times.

"As a player, I think there’s times I think he’s a baby," the scout said. "He gets frustrated easily."

Fears averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.6 steals for the Sooners this past season. However, his average of 3.4 turnovers per game was among the worst in the nation.

B/R's Jonathan Wasserman predicted in his latest mock draft that the Utah Jazz would use the No. 5 pick to select Fears, though he acknowledged that some teams drafting in the lottery "may be hesitant due to his inconsistent range, high turnover rate and limited effectiveness off the ball."

The scout admitted that it was tough to get a firm evaluation for Fears, but his skills on the court can be exciting when he puts it all together.

"He’s hard for me. He was at USA (Basketball, where his team won the 2024 gold medal at the 2024 FIBA Men’s U-18 AmeriCup), and he’s trying to get it all at once. You want him to take a little bit of time," the scout said. "But he can go get a bucket. He can pass."

It will all become clear for Fears and the rest of the prospects who are ready to make the leap to the professional level when the NBA draft begins on June 25.