IU basketball recruiting: 2023 point guard Jeremy Fears, Jr. names a top-eight

A key IU basketball recruiting target in the class of 2023 narrowed things down a bit over the weekend.

Joliet, Ill. point guard Jeremy Fears, Jr. cut his recruitment down to eight schools — Memphis, Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, Kansas, UConn, Indiana, and Missouri.

Fears, Jr. and his family have made multiple trips to Indiana, including a visit in June and another in September. Currently a four-star according to the 247Sports Composite, he is right on the edge of five-star status, ranked No. 27 nationally and the No. 7 point guard in the class.

The Fears family is impressed with Indiana head coach Mike Woodson.

“His personality, just the way he was talking to us. It was impressive how down to earth he was,” Jeremy Fears, Sr. told The Daily Hoosier in June. “You would never know his resume. He is real nice and humble, but he means business. He’s real knowledgeable and experienced to the highest level, and then he gets on the court and displays the same type of actions.”

The 6-foot-1 Fears, Jr. told Joe Tipton of On3 the factors he is prioritizing when it comes to a college decision.

“For me to be able to come in and play…be able to run the team and have freedom,” Fears said. “A winning program with winning players. A great coach that’ll tell me when I’m doing wrong and get on me. A coach that’s going to push me and help me get better.”

Fears, Jr. is not expected to commit to a college until after his junior season of high school basketball. He attends La Lumiere in northern Indiana and will play AAU basketball for the Indiana-based Indy Heat Nike program next spring and summer.

Assistant coach Dane Fife is the primary point person for Indiana on this recruitment. The Hoosiers are prioritizing the point guard position in the class of 2023. They are also recruiting Gabe Cupps, Miro Little, London Johnson and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn at the position.