The Washington Wizards' looming decision at No. 1 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft has taken up the majority of the conversation over the last couple of weeks and understandably so.
However, Washington has continued their evaluation of prospects for not only their top selection, but players who could fall to them at pick No. 51 or persuade them to make a draft night trade to move up in the draft order.
One player in specific whose predraft workout with the Wizards should catch the eyes of fans is Jeremy Fears Jr., who's become one of the biggest risers on draft boards as of late.
Jeremy Fears could be a sleeper for the Wizards
Fears is the brother of reigning All-Rookie team member, Jeremiah Fears, whom the Wizards passed on last offseason in favor of Tre Johnson.
The guard emerged as a reliable option at Michigan State this season, averaging 15.2 points and 9.4 assists on 43.1% shooting from field goal range and 32.1% from beyond the arc.
Learning under legendary college coach Tom Izzo alone is enough to warrant the interest from the Wizards, but considering the leap from the guard to his season proving to be a capable scorer and legitimate facilitator, it doesn't come as a surprise to see Fears being considered as one of the biggest risers in the draft.
At 6-foot-2, Fears doesn't have the size that Washington has grown to covet in the backcourt, but based on his athleticism and IQ, Washington may be willing to overlook that.
The only problem, though, is if Washington does fall in love with Fears as a prospect, they could have a hard time maneuvering their way to select him.
Wizards aren't the only interested team in Fears
Fears has made his rounds among league circles since his showing at the combine only validated what his sophomore campaign at MSU showcased.
As of now, after No. 1, Washington's next pick in the 2026 NBA Draft is No. 51, and the possibility of Fears remaining undrafted that long is slim to none.
Washington has the assets to move up on the board to select the guard, but with his rise over the last few weeks, it'll be difficult for the team to position themselves over the other 29 teams in the league who may have their attention on Fears.
Regardless, the Wizards hosting the former Spartan for a workout is a good sign that he's at least on the team's radar.
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