Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell
10/26/2026 1:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State men's basketball redshirt junior guard Jeremy Fears Jr. was one of 20 players selected to the watch list for the 2027 Bob Cousy Award by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Monday.
The annual Bob Cousy Award, named after the Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard, celebrates its 24th year by highlighting the top point guard in NCAA Division I men's college basketball.
Fears, who was one of five finalists for the Cousy Award last year, was named the Big Ten Conference's Preseason Player of the Year, the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Preseason National Player of the Year and earned preseason All-American honors from the Associated Press.
Fears is coming off a career year in 2025-26, helping lead the Spartans to a 27-8 overall record, including a 15-5 mark in the Big Ten Conference.
Fears led Michigan State in scoring with 15.2 points per game and assists, with 9.4 per game, which not only ranked first in the Big Ten but was No. 1 in the country. He was third in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (88.5%) and second in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.86). He was the only player in the country who averaged at least 15.0 points and 9.0 assists per game.
Nationally, Fears led the country in assists per game (9.4), was second in total assists (328), fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.86) and ranked No. 33 in free throw percentage (88.5%).
He handed out 13 assists in the Big Ten Tournament against UCLA, breaking the Michigan State school record of 291 set by Cassius Winston in 2018-19. Fears finished the season with a school-record 328 assists and his 9.4 per game average is also a Michigan State record.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday, October 30. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Bob Cousy Award will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to Cousy and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The winner of the 2027 Cousy Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the four other members of the Men's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward), Karl Malone Award (Power Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center).
The Spartans open the 2026-27 regular season on Monday, Nov. 2, hosting Quinnipiac at the Breslin Center. The game tips off at 7 p.m. and will be available on B1G+.
With the 2026-27 schedule now set, there's no better time to secure your place at the Breslin Center for another season of Spartan Basketball. A limited number of season tickets remain available, giving fans the opportunity to experience every home game and help create the energy and home-court advantage that makes the Breslin Center special. Secure your season tickets HERE and be a part of the action all season long as the Spartans take the floor.
The annual Bob Cousy Award, named after the Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard, celebrates its 24th year by highlighting the top point guard in NCAA Division I men's college basketball.
Fears, who was one of five finalists for the Cousy Award last year, was named the Big Ten Conference's Preseason Player of the Year, the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Preseason National Player of the Year and earned preseason All-American honors from the Associated Press.
Fears is coming off a career year in 2025-26, helping lead the Spartans to a 27-8 overall record, including a 15-5 mark in the Big Ten Conference.
Fears led Michigan State in scoring with 15.2 points per game and assists, with 9.4 per game, which not only ranked first in the Big Ten but was No. 1 in the country. He was third in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (88.5%) and second in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.86). He was the only player in the country who averaged at least 15.0 points and 9.0 assists per game.
Nationally, Fears led the country in assists per game (9.4), was second in total assists (328), fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.86) and ranked No. 33 in free throw percentage (88.5%).
He handed out 13 assists in the Big Ten Tournament against UCLA, breaking the Michigan State school record of 291 set by Cassius Winston in 2018-19. Fears finished the season with a school-record 328 assists and his 9.4 per game average is also a Michigan State record.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday, October 30. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Bob Cousy Award will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to Cousy and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The winner of the 2027 Cousy Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the four other members of the Men's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward), Karl Malone Award (Power Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center).
The Spartans open the 2026-27 regular season on Monday, Nov. 2, hosting Quinnipiac at the Breslin Center. The game tips off at 7 p.m. and will be available on B1G+.
With the 2026-27 schedule now set, there's no better time to secure your place at the Breslin Center for another season of Spartan Basketball. A limited number of season tickets remain available, giving fans the opportunity to experience every home game and help create the energy and home-court advantage that makes the Breslin Center special. Secure your season tickets HERE and be a part of the action all season long as the Spartans take the floor.
Tuesday, October 20
Thursday, October 15
Friday, October 02
Tuesday, September 22