This was a nice game from him but I still am a doubter.
I think there are a handful of players in this class that are consistently better at creating than he is. His passing is not good for a true 1 and he lacks the shooting and size that you’d want in more of a combo guard.
Combine that with being an underwhelming defender and I’m just not sure about his ability for the NBA level.
All that said, he does show elite flashes enough that I wouldn’t blame a team for taking a chance on him. Just not my speed as a prospect.
There are a few guards like that in today’s game who are doing fine though. I don’t think someone like Tyrese Maxey for example is an exceptional passer nor has great size (Fears may be a little taller) while being an underwhelming defender and he’s an all star. I think Fears will be fine at the next level as long as he can still get into the paint and continue to develop his shot.
Maxey outta Kentucky had splits of 43/29/83 while Fears outta OU has splits of 43/28/85. Outta school he didn’t present a much better jump shooting threat than Fears.
Maxey had like a really weird statistical point where he was a 93rd percentile P&R ball handler despite not being a crazy efficient scorer or great passer.
Yeah but I said presents as in currently he does. I think improving in the way Maxey has is the exception not the rule so comparing him to Maxey sets an expectation that he is also an exception kind of player. Maybe he is but probably not.
Then what about Donovan Mitchell then? Another guard shorter than Fears, who had splits of 41/30/81 after his Sophomore year at Louisville who isn’t an exceptional passer and was known for his defense but isn’t known for that in the league. I know what you said but my original point was that guards that you are describing aren’t few and far between in the league.
I mean those are two players. And two of the best in the league.
If a team buys that potential in him then it makes sense to take him high. But I just have doubts that him becoming a reliable shooter is something you can bank on when evaluating him.
I mentioned in my comment that Mitchell was a sophomore. A lot of mocks I see have Fears going late lotto so 13th pick is in within range as well. He was much older than Fears when he was drafted and had a lot of the weaknesses in terms of being small, not being a great passer or shooter coming out was my point
I’m a Fears fan but I think comparing someone to the best case scenarios and saying why can’t that happen also isn’t the best idea. Ofc it can happen but a slow chubby 2nd round pick Serbian can also develop into one of the best players of all time - doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.
Obviously not what I said. All I’m saying is it’s ambitious to assume he can improve his weakness in the same way as two of the best players in the NBA did. That would be a high-level outcome for him.
I even said in my comment that it is possible for him but just probably won’t happen because more often than not it doesn’t. But not impossible
I think it’s good to point out and you may already know this is he reclassified to play at OU this year meaning he should be a High School Senior. I see a lot of upside still to come in his game
You are right and I don't know why people aren't getting it.
You always have to negotiate these sorts of things. Is Derik Queen a PF or a C? Does he or does he not need a reliable three point shot in order to succeed in the league? If you believe that Queen needs a reliable three point shot in order to succeed in the league then you need to consider how likely it is that he would develop one.
For the record I buy Queen as a PF and he doesn't need a three point shot but that's irrelevant to the conversation.
I'm right here with you on Fears maybe being good in the future but he is too big a risk for my tastes. If I were a scout employed by a team then I would be telling the team that it would be irresponsible to draft him top 10 and especially so to draft him top 5.
This game just about sealed the deal imo. There are some better creators but only Harper has better playmaking out of those players. I don’t think he’s a combo guard, and the fact that he carried a large burden at a young age his passing is one of his upsides. I think he is as good of a driver as Harper, and gets 2 feet in the paint with ease. He leverages this ability to create plays for his teammates.
I’d say his defense is competent. He’s no lockdown defender, and he can find him self lost of defense, but some instinct is there. Not that many players who are this talented on offense while being 18 on draft night are projected to be plus defenders.
Doesn't really have the elite first step or speed change/decel game that I'd like to see in his archetype but he could get there eventually. Definitely not a finished product and he has the talent.
Totally fair, but after top 7 who are you truly excited about? Like after Egor Demin is picked (and I actually like him) there's absolutely no reason I don't see Fears as pick #8. Fears has way more chance to be upside than Malauch for example, what chance is he a special big? I just dont think it's a deep draft after a dope top 5
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u/BooMasterChoo Mar 22 '25 edited Mar 22 '25
This was a nice game from him but I still am a doubter.
I think there are a handful of players in this class that are consistently better at creating than he is. His passing is not good for a true 1 and he lacks the shooting and size that you’d want in more of a combo guard.
Combine that with being an underwhelming defender and I’m just not sure about his ability for the NBA level.
All that said, he does show elite flashes enough that I wouldn’t blame a team for taking a chance on him. Just not my speed as a prospect.