"It means a lot to me": Oklahoma Jeremiah Fears and Jordan Brand hoopers express gratitude for Jumpman Invitational opportunity

Jeremiah Fears is having a dream freshman season at Oklahoma. So far, the five-star guard prospect has emerged as one of the top talents in the 2024 freshman class with his impressive performances, playing a key role in the Sooners' perfect start to the season.

On December 18, Oklahoma took part in the third edition of the Jumpman Invitational, which took place at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. Besides Oklahoma, the other three original universities of the Jordan Brand, Michigan, UNC and Florida, also featured in the annual event, which began in 2022.

Jeremiah Fears enjoyed a memorable outing in Charlotte, coming up with a clutch four-point play to power the Sooners to an 87-86 victory over the Michigan Wolverines. In a series of clips shared by SLAM, Fears spoke highly of the opportunity he got to feature in the Jumpman Invitational while showing immense gratitude.

"Man, it means a lot," said Fears. "Just knowing a lot of guys coming up has been playing in the Jordan uniform and the Jordan brand. Guys like Zion (Williamson) and Jayson Tatum, and guys like that, it means a lot to me."

Jeremiah Fears wasn't the only athlete to show their gratitude for the Jumpman Invitational. Key players from all four men's and women's basketball programs who took part in the event also spoke volumes about the annual event.

Michigan freshman Mila Holloway highlighted how her involvement in the tournament drives her to achieve greatness in her career.

"Wearing the Jumpman logo just shows that I'm a part of an elite group of athletes," said Holloway. "It's a symbol of hard work, excellence and the legacy of Michael Jordan. It's an honor that pushes me to strive for greatness each and every time I step on the court."

Holloway's senior teammate, Jordan Hobbs, shared how the allure of Michigan being a Jordan Brand school stood out to her when the program called her.

"When Michigan called, I knew they were a Jordan Brand school," said Hobbs. "It made a world of difference, so it's awesome representing the Jumpman logo."

Jeremiah Fears posts strong numbers in his freshman season

Jeremiah Fears has shown why he was the ninth-ranked combo guard prospect in the Class of 2024 with his strong start to life at Oklahoma. So far, he has averaged 18.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 29.2 minutes.

Fears is currently ranked 16th in the top 100 prospects for the 2025 NBA Draft per ESPN, and at this rate, he is likely to make moves up the list as the season goes on.