Jeremy Fears is dominating assists, nearing a historic Big Ten single-season record. Can he shatter it and lead Michigan State to glory?
It’s no secret that Jeremy Fears is playing some of the best basketball in the country.
His mammoth personality and elite basketball IQ are what people remember most after Michigan State games — that, and whatever acrobatic dunk Coen Carr unleashed that night.
Fears has already been named to the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 list. He’s leading the Spartans in both points and assists per game. He’s leading the nation in assists and is on pace to do something pretty remarkable. Fighting for his chance to solidify his name in the Big Ten record books.
Where Fears Currently Stands
Right now, Fears has 241 assists. That ties him for 12th all-time in Big Ten single-season history.
He’s currently tied with two former Michigan State greats:
- Cassius Winston (2017–18)
- Denzel Valentine (2015–16)
That total is also tied for the fourth-most assists ever in a Michigan State uniform for a single season.
The only Spartans ahead of him:
- Magic Johnson – 269 (1978–79)
- Mateen Cleaves – 274 (1998–99)
- Cassius Winston – 291 (2018–19)
Averaging 9.3 assists per game, best in the nation, Fears has five regular-season games left. At that pace, he would finish around 288 assists, just shy of Winston’s program-best 291.
But here’s where it gets interesting.
Single-season records include postseason play — Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament games. At a bare minimum, that’s two additional games. Factoring those in would push Fears’ projection to around 306 assists.
The Record He’s Chasing
The current Big Ten single-season assists record belongs to Braden Smith, who finished with 313 assists in the 2024–25 season.
Smith is still playing and currently sits at 220 assists — 21 behind Fears — meaning he’s very much still in the race to climb even higher in the record books himself.
If Fears reaches 306, he’d likely need just one more strong tournament performance at his current average to surpass 313.
Why It’s Realistic
Fears has 48 assists in his last four games. Michigan State’s improved perimeter shooting — like what we saw against UCLA — only creates more assist opportunities. When the Spartans are knocking down shots, his numbers spike.
And with Michigan State projected to make noise in both the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament, there should be ample opportunities.
The Spartans are one of the most-watched teams in college basketball this season, and expectations are sky high. A deep run means more games. More games mean more chances.
The Bigger Picture
What makes this even more impressive is Fears’ growth. After battling off-the-court injuries, he’s become the definition of resilience. He sees the floor like a field general and makes the right read almost every possession.
He still has two years of eligibility remaining after this season. If he sets the single-season record now, he could spend the next two years pushing career records even further out of reach.
Right now, Fears sits:
- 4th in Michigan State single-season history
- 12th in Big Ten single-season history
- With at least seven games remaining
The sky truly is the limit.
So the question becomes: can he do it?
Can he etch his name at the very top of the record books — and lead Michigan State to hardware in the process?
Only time will tell.