We are still in the midst of an eventful March Madness season, and with that, all eyes are on the potential prospects who could be on their way to becoming impactful pro talents when they hopefully hear their names called at the 2025 NBA Draft.
Sports publications everywhere are adjusting their 2025 NBA Mock Drafts, as the collegiate scene sees various players either rising in the ranks or dropping from their initial spots. Unfortunately for the Toronto Raptors, having the easiest schedule in the league after the All-Star break hasn't improved their draft lottery odds.
With a 25-47 record at the time of writing, they currently hold the 7th-best odds for the 1st overall pick. However, most mock drafts now project Toronto to remain in the 7-8 pick range, which is definitely not the most ideal outcome for die-hard Raptors fans.
Be that as it may, the Raptors could still gain an intriguing prospect for their talent arsenal. The latest Bleacher Report mock draft suggests Toronto is going in a different direction than the usual conclusion, favoring Khaman Maluach, which I've seen so many others settle on.
Instead, the Raptors go in a guard direction with their 7th overall pick, selecting freshman Jeremiah Fears from the University of Oklahoma.
Is Jeremiah Fears the 'guy' for Toronto to select in the 2025 NBA Draft?
Although Fears' run with his Sooners squad in the NCAA tournament was spoiled with a first-round exit courtesy of UConn, he would still impress in the 67-59 loss with a stat line of 20 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
In his freshman season at Oklahoma, Fears posted strong stats across the board, averaging the following numbers: 17.1 points on 43.4% field goal shooting, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.6 steals, all in just over 30 minutes played per game during a total of 34 appearances (31 starts) for the Sooners. Now, if you noticed, I didn't mention his three-point shooting percentage, and that's because it stands at a relatively weak 28.4%. This is one of the key areas that needs improvement in Fears' game.
Nevertheless, there is still a lot to be excited about with Fears as a prospect, and his drive-to-the-rim tendencies make him a natural fit with the Raptors' history of similar player archetypes. As the B/R mock draft suggests, "With the speed and shiftiness he uses to create, and the tough three-level shotmaking flashes, teams will be looking at Fears as a potential high-level starting point guard."
Yahoo Sports' NBA Senior Analyst, Kevin O'Connor, also highlighted the strengths of Fears' skill set in his 2025 NBA Draft scouting report, noting his ability to drive to the basket, jumper potential, pick-and-roll playmaking, and clutch performance.
The B/R mock draft labels Fears' pro NBA comparisons as evoking images of Jaden Ivey and Scoot Henderson, while O'Connor's Yahoo report mentions names like Jamal Murray and Jordan Poole—a very diverse set of guards, to say the least.
Now at the conclusion of his player profile in the B/R mock draft, it reads: "The main questions ask whether he'll improve his shooting and decision-making, but for an 18-year-old with a heavy workload and elusiveness that passes the NBA eye test, he's made enough threes, pull-ups and setup passes for teams to bet on his development."
We’re discussing a very young guard, an archetype that typically doesn’t translate to the NBA level at an elite rate right away. It’s definitely a high-risk, high-reward scenario, but Fears has the talent to be a building block for any team's future. The question is, are the Toronto Raptors the right team to help Fears reach his full potential? Honestly, I'm not so sure.
At the collegiate level, Fears struggled to limit his turnovers, averaging 3.4 per game. However, he has the potential to improve this aspect of his game with better playmaking and court awareness. It’s clear he has an eye for finding his teammates; they just haven't connected as well yet.
The weak outside shooting is certainly something to take note of, especially considering the Raptors already have a wonky three-point problem, lacking any real shooters of note outside of Immanuel Quickley, Gradey Dick, and Jamison Battle. Adding yet another shooting project isn't the most ideal scenario, as the Raptors will likely make that push for a successful season once again with Brandon Ingram joining the fold.
Moreover, I think Fears' addition creates a bit of a logjam for guard minutes come next season. The Raptors likely have their point guards figured out, with Quickley in the starting lineup and the gritty Jamal Shead coming off the bench. Would that push Fears into more of a combo guard role instead? If that's the case, where does he stand in the pecking order alongside guys like Dick, Ja'Kobe Walter, and others?
On the flip side, it wouldn't hurt to have a potential future point guard ready to be unleashed (one day) if he can earn that starting role alongside the top players, especially if the Quickley point guard experiment doesn’t pan out. I see it much like how Rob Dillingham is currently positioned with the Minnesota Timberwolves; it's only a matter of time before he gets the nod at point guard for the long term.
I don't know; it's a tough decision with Fears. He's more than likely a project player rather than a plug-in guy for the Raptors' seemingly competitive vision for next season. But then again, I think even the Raptors' direction is starting to look a lot more hazy than initially expected. I wouldn't lose my mind over the Fears pick, but it ultimately depends on what Toronto needs more in their lineup for both their interim and long-term goals.