Former Illinois Prep Duo Expected to Go in NBA Draft 1st Round

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The NBA Draft will take place beginning on Wednesday night with the first round and then the second round will happen on Thursday.&nbsp; What former Illinois prospects could hear their names called?&nbsp; We look at those players here!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jeremiah Fears (Joliet West – Oklahoma)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br>Projected Draft Range: #5 - #8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fears entered high school with quite a bit of buzz.&nbsp; His older brother Jeremy was already a star in the state and rumor was he was even better.&nbsp; Definitely a different type of player for sure.&nbsp; Jeremiah was wired to score and that was seen from the very first time we saw him play.&nbsp; It was almost four years ago to the day that we saw him suit up with Joliet West at the Ridgewood Live Event before he even started high school.&nbsp; I remember the ball handling being very advanced with potential as a shot maker.&nbsp; The evolution would continue including the next summer when we saw him at Prep Hoops Live Atlanta put on an absolutely stellar performance while playing up two grade levels.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>In [program_tooltip program_id='2075515' first='Hoops' last='4 Health']'s next game their star 2025 point guard Jeremiah Fears went off for 42 points!&nbsp; Against the Auburn Raptors the Joliet West point guard had it all working.&nbsp; He has unlimited range on his shot from way downtown.&nbsp; Let it fly from well beyond the arc with consistency.&nbsp; Quickness and speed to do major damage in transition.&nbsp; Also is a player that can finish around defenders or over them with floaters.&nbsp; Liked what we saw defensively as he was constantly pressuring opponents in both games we saw.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fears rocketed up to the top spot in the state of Illinois and stayed there until he left before his junior season to attend AZ Compass.&nbsp; He committed to come back home to play his college ball at the University of Illinois.&nbsp; Things would change the summer before what was supposed to be his senior year.&nbsp; He made two big decisions to decommit from Illinois, commit to Oklahoma, and leave high school a year early to head to Norman.&nbsp; Worked out well for him as he averaged 17.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.1 APG, and 1.6 SPG.&nbsp; He is projected to go somewhere in the top eight selections on Wednesday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Danny Wolf (Lake Forest Academy – Michigan)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br>Projected Draft Range: #15 - #30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br>Wolf is a prospect that didn't play his entire career in the state, but spent time at Lake Forest Academy where he became one of the best big men in his class.&nbsp; Our first evaluation of him was in October of 2019 at Pangos All-Midwest Frosh/Soph Camp.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Wolf was absolutely sensational at Pangos!&nbsp; The 6'7” four man was extremely active on both ends of the floor.&nbsp; Offensively he can stretch the floor shooting it, put it on the deck, and score at the cup.&nbsp; Several times he took the ball off the glass and pushed it the other way for acrobatic layups.&nbsp; Defensively he was effective as a rim protector.&nbsp; High motor kid that was super productive.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A lot of those same traits we initially saw continued throughout his career with the [program_tooltip program_id='2452456' first='Mac' last='Irvin Fire'] who he played with at several Prep Hoops Circuit events.&nbsp; He would attend prep school in the northeast before ultimately committing to Yale.&nbsp; During the 2023-2024 season he led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament and an upset of Auburn in the first round.&nbsp; He would then make the move back to the Midwest to play at Michigan this past year averaging 13.2 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 3.6 APG, and 1.4 BPG on 49% shooting from the field.&nbsp; His versatility, size, and skill set are what make him such an intriguing prospect at the next level.&nbsp; Expect him to go somewhere in the second half of the first round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->