RALEIGH, North Carolina — Armon Gates wasn’t sure it would happen this fast.

The Oklahoma assistant coach, who was instrumental in the program landing Jeremiah Fears back in July, knew the crafty 6-foot-4 guard was talented and possessed a near-limitless ceiling; he just didn’t know if everything would coalesce as quickly as it has for the future first-round pick.

“Oh man, it’s been unbelievable,” Gates told Sooners Illustrated. “…I did not think it would be this fast, that his game would translate this fast, but he is such a learner and a pleasure to be around. The kid came into our setting, and you could tell he wanted to be a pro right away.”

Gates was first introduced to Fears during the guard’s sophomore year of high school, when Gates — like Fears, a native of the Chicago area — was an assistant at Oregon. He could tell Fears had the right attributes on the court, likening his “aura” to Brooklyn Nets guard D’Angelo Russell, as well as the foundational composition; his father played college ball at Ohio and Bradley, and his older brother is currently starting in the backcourt for Michigan State. Gates brought Fears out to Eugene for an unofficial visit in January 2023. A year later, Fears committed to Illinois, and when he decommitted last summer, Gates and Porter Moser swooped in on the opportunity to not only bring him to Oklahoma — but do so a year ahead of schedule, as Fears reclassified from the 2025 class to join the Sooners this season.

“Just playing up all my life,” Fears said in October of his confidence in reclassifying. “I played up with my brother and played up a couple years, so I just kind of felt like it would be the same thing and take me back to something I know.”

Fears saw an opportunity at Oklahoma, and he seized it, joining a rebuilt roster looking to get over the hump in Moser’s fourth season. What followed over the next eight months has been nothing short of remarkable for the now 18-year-old, who has led the Sooners to their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2021. He heads into Friday’s NCAA Tournament opener against UConn as OU’s leader in points (17), assists (4.1) and steals (1.6). Fears, an SEC All-Freshman selection, is also third on the team in rebounding, averaging 4.1 per game.

“Every day he brings a competitive fire,” forward Jacolb Cole said before the season. “He’s trying to cut throats every single day at practice. I feel as though Jeremiah, he’s always going at everyone. Everyone’s going at him. He’s going at everyone. He’s trying to be better, and he’s fearless.”