To be honest, we all knew it was going to be Cooper Flagg officially hearing his name called as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Mavs, followed by the Spurs selecting Rutgers guard Dylan Harper. It was already predicted by analysts before, but the interesting part of the draft came with the rest of the lottery. That’s because each selection was a domino that impacted the next several picks, and caught in the mayhem was Jeremiah Fears!

While Fears was projected to be the No. 5 overall pick in the NBA Draft, he was selected at No. 7 overall, as the ones projected below him, Ace Bailey and Tre Johnson, were picked ahead of him. But that doesn’t take away from him being the highest local player picked since Young’s Jahlil Okafor was drafted by Philadelphia with the No. 3 pick in 2015.

And, honestly, we already knew it was going to happen. It all goes back to his performance for Oklahoma against Kentucky, where he stunned the commentators, especially Stephen A. Smith, who couldn’t help but react and compare his performance to one of the greats. “Jeremiah Fears is the next Kyrie Irving,” he declared.

And that comparison seemed apt, as Fears dropped 28 points on 10-of-22 shooting, dished out 5 assists, and recorded 3 steals. “Fears, pretty—you talk about scorers, he’s one of the men,” the commentators echoed as he danced past defenders with a craftiness reminiscent of Kyrie’s early Duke days.

But what’s even more striking is that just a few years ago, Fears wasn’t even on national radars. A Joliet native, he walked into his first high school camp in 2021 at barely 5’6″ with a golden mohawk and a chip on his shoulder. The competition was fierce, and most of the older players dismissed him as just another undersized freshman—until he boldly declared himself the best player in the gym. And from that moment on, there was no denying his fearless game.

Just consider his high school debut: he attempted a game-tying three at the buzzer and finished with 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals. Then, skipping his senior year, he went straight to Oklahoma and became one of the youngest players in the draft class.

Yet, he played like a seasoned leader, averaging 17.1 points and 4.1 rebounds across 34 games—enough to lead Oklahoma through a grueling SEC schedule. So, when Stephen A. Smith said, “When Fears brings that ball… he’s not just playing, he’s hooping,” you understand why he’s drawing comparisons to Kyrie Irving.

But is it just a bold take, or does it really hold weight?

It all started way back in 2010-11 when Irving’s time at Duke was limited to 11 games due to a toe injury, yet in that small window, he left no doubt about his talent as he averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.4 rebounds, all while shooting over 50% from the field and nearly 46% from three—numbers that would be impressive for anyone, let alone a freshman.

Then came his game against Michigan State, where he dropped 31 points with a clear message that he was here to dominate. And that was how his rare combination of flash and control made him the easy choice as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft.

Fast forward to now, and you can see why people are starting to say Jeremiah Fears might be cut from the same cloth. Just 18 years old, Fears plays with a confidence and skill set that feels very Kyrie-esque. He’s got elite handles, deceptive speed, and the ability to score from all three levels. Whether it’s pulling up from mid-range or slicing through the defense for a tough finish, his offensive game is smooth and fearless.

Of course, there’s still room for growth as Fears isn’t the most consistent from beyond the arc yet, and he’ll need to add muscle to handle NBA contact. But the foundation is there, as he himself puts it better, “Some people make the joke, ‘Have no fears,’ ” Fears shared in an interview with Andscape. “But it’s like it’s a real thing. I try not to fear nothing. And whatever you do, be the best or try to become the best version of yourself.” 

He plays with a certain poise that you just can’t teach, and his ability to control the game, especially in the pick-and-roll, makes the Kyrie comparison more than just a hot take. So, you know the mindset and the approach he follows, but will he be able to keep the same pace diving into the NBA?