Photo: Junfu Han ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
EAST LANSING ~ Redshirt sophomore guard Jeremy Fears Jr. continues to establish himself as one of the premier point guards in college basketball, earning a spot on the Midseason Top 10 list for the 2026 Bob Cousy Award. Announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the honor places Fears among the nation’s elite floor generals and makes him one of only three Big Ten players to make the prestigious list. His recognition comes as no surprise to those watching Michigan State’s season unfold, as he has become the engine behind the Spartans’success.
Fears has been central to Michigan State’s impressive 19-3 overall record and 9-2 mark in Big Ten play, helping the Spartans climb to No. 10 in both the AP Top 25 and ESPN Coaches Poll. As a team captain, he leads MSU in both scoring (14.9 points per game) and assists (8.9 per game), showcasing an all-around game and maturity that belies his underclassman status. Nationally, he ranks second in total assists, fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio and sits inside the top 40 in free-throw percentage, statistics that underscore his efficiency and leadership on the court.
PODCAST
Feb. 2, 2026 ~ Tom Izzo, MSU head basketball coach, talks to Chris Renwick, Lloyd Jackson, and Jamie Edmonds about this weekend’s basketball game against the University of Michigan.
(CONTINUED) Adding to his growing résumé, Fears was also named Big Ten Player of the Week for the second straight time. His latest weekly honor comes after a dominant two-game stretch in which he averaged 30.0 points and 8.0 assists, proving he can take over games both as a scorer and facilitator. Performances like these have strengthened his case for postseason awards and drawn attention from basketball fans and analysts nationwide.
Supporters will soon have a chance to play a role in Fears’ award campaign, as fan voting for the next rounds of the Cousy Award begins Feb. 6 on hoophallawards.com. The list of 10 finalists will be narrowed to five in mid-March before final selections are made in late March by Cousy, Lieberman and Hall of Fame committee members. With Fears’ combination of skill, poise and production, he has positioned himself as a strong contender not only for the Cousy Award but as one of college basketball’s defining players this season.
