Did Tom Izzo Just Reveal Jeremy Fears’ NBA Draft Decision?

At 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, May 27, the deadline will officially pass for college basketball players to withdraw from the NBA Draft and retain their college eligibility. Any player who keeps their name in the draft pool will officially begin the next chapter of their basketball career at the professional level.

There are still several notable players who have yet to make their final decision, bringing the process down to the wire. Among those still weighing their options is Michigan State star point guard Jeremy Fears Jr.

His decision may be one of the most anticipated announcements still remaining, especially for Michigan State fans. Spartan Nation has been anxiously waiting to hear whether Fears will return to East Lansing for another season or take the leap to the NBA. But while fans continue to sit on the edge of their seats, there may have been a subtle clue that slipped under the radar early Wednesday morning.

A post on X from Detroit News Michigan State beat writer Connor Earegood highlighted a fairly casual comment made by Tom Izzo while attending the Mackinac Policy Conference.

According to Earegood, Izzo was asked about next season’s roster and responded by saying:

“We’ve got most of our guards back. I think we’ll have all of them back.”

That quote is absolutely worth paying attention to.

Izzo could have easily avoided the question or answered it in a much vaguer fashion. Considering the amount of attention surrounding Fears’ pending decision, it feels significant that Izzo sounded as confident as he did. While the Hall of Fame coach certainly wouldn’t intentionally break news before a player announces it himself, the wording of the quote makes it seem like he may know a little more than the public currently does.

Of course, there’s also the possibility that Izzo is simply trying to will the decision into existence publicly on the final day before the deadline. That would not be entirely shocking either, especially considering how important Fears is to Michigan State’s outlook heading into next season.

At the end of the day, this is not Izzo’s decision to make, nor is it the fans’ decision. The choice belongs solely to Fears and the people closest to him. Still, there’s no denying what his return would mean for the Spartans.

Fears led Michigan State in assists this past season and served as the engine that kept the offense moving. His ability to control tempo, create opportunities for teammates, and consistently make the right read gives the Spartans stability at the point guard position. In a basketball world that increasingly values smart, composed floor generals, Fears has shown plenty of traits that NBA teams covet.

Right now, many projections have Fears landing somewhere in the late first-round or early second-round range, though draft positioning can fluctuate quickly. There’s certainly an argument for entering the draft now, especially with professional opportunities already on the table.

However, there’s also a strong case for returning to Michigan State for another year. Additional experience against elite competition could elevate Fears’ draft stock even higher, potentially pushing him firmly into the first-round conversation next season. Another year developing offensively while continuing to showcase his leadership could make a major difference.

Still, returning to college comes with risk. Even in today’s NIL era, where top college players are being compensated at a high level, every additional season carries the possibility of injury or setbacks that could impact future professional opportunities.

That’s what makes this decision so difficult.

Michigan State appears to have a roster capable of making serious noise this season. The Spartans are bringing in one of the top recruiting classes in the country while also retaining much of last year’s core. Add in massive transfer portal addition Anton Bonke, and the Spartans look built to compete near the top of the Big Ten and potentially far beyond that.

But if Michigan State truly wants to enter the national championship conversation, it likely needs its fearless leader back running the show.

And if Izzo’s comments hinted at anything Wednesday morning, it may have been exactly that — the belief that all of his guards, including Jeremy Fears Jr., will be back in green and white next season.

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