Michigan State coach Tom Izzo can breathe simpler going into the 2024 season, which continues to be months away. The Spartans are in Spain to play three exhibition video games and, as one would possibly assume, bond as a staff with the brand new season on the horizon.
A optimistic revelation has come earlier than the journey. Sophomore level guard Jeremy Fears Jr., who suffered a gunshot wound to the leg final winter that successfully ended his freshman marketing campaign, gave the media a optimistic replace on the harm.
“Clearly, I nonetheless need to rehab every single day, nonetheless need to be good, care for my physique,” Fears instructed reporters final week. “However simply having the ability to really feel like myself once more, transfer, burst, [be] fast, soar, and have the ability to go two, three hours with no drawback.”
Such information is nice for a Spartans staff that’s younger however gifted largely as a result of unbelievable recruiting haul Izzo managed from the category of 2023.
Fears was one of many huge neon-names of the category, the No. 7-ranked level guard of the category per 247Sports Composite rankings. Fears was not the highest-rated recruit within the class, however 247Sports’ Director of Scouting, Adam Finkelstein, discovered a lot to like concerning the level guard’s recreation.
“Fears is a real level guard who has pure charisma and management expertise,” Finkelstein wrote. “He is aware of tips on how to run a staff, has good flooring imaginative and prescient and playmaking instincts, significantly within the open court docket and when enjoying pick-and-roll. He’s very good with lots of methods up his sleeve, though there are occasions when he doesn’t all the time worth the ball as a lot as he confirmed with USA Basketball. … He has a playmaking intuition defensively, however once more, has occasions the place he may be too dangerous playing for steals, fairly than sitting down and getting stops. His largest swing ability is his taking pictures. He’s a constant menace together with his pull-up, however can jerk his launch from behind the three-point line.”
Fears might be Izzo’s level guard of the foreseeable future, however the burden of success is not going to simply be on Fears’ shoulders this season. His fellow classmates will carry simply as a lot stress.
Xavier Booker was a five-star and the No. 11 total prospect within the class, per 247Sports. The 6-foot-10 huge man might be anticipated to carry out, in addition to fellow blue-chip ahead Coen Carr.
Michael France is Sports activities Illustrated’s Michigan State recruiting beat author, masking all issues Huge Ten recruiting for Spartan Nation. You’ll want to comply with him on Twitter/X@michaelfrancesi for unique Spartans recruiting protection.
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