What changed for Jeremy Fears Jr.?

Jeremy Fears Jr. withdraws and returns to Michigan State

Jeremy Fears Jr. has withdrawn from the 2026 NBA Draft and will return to Michigan State for the 2026–27 season.

The decision was relayed through his agent, Mike Miller, via Jon Rothstein’s reporting. The withdrawal keeps Fears in the college game rather than committing to the NBA process.

For Michigan State, this is a major retention development because the program can plan around a returning player instead of needing to rebuild a primary role. The timing also suggests Fears was still weighing his professional readiness late into the draft evaluation period, and ultimately decided that another college season is the better path.

For the NBA Draft itself, Fears’ withdrawal reduces the pool of players teams could have targeted, potentially shifting how franchises prioritize the remaining prospects.

Why it matters

• College impact: Michigan State gains a returning contributor whose presence can affect team identity and on-court structure.
• Draft impact: NBA teams lose a prospect option from the draft board and must look elsewhere.

Bottom line: Fears will not go pro this cycle, and Michigan State keeps one of its key decision-makers for next year.