NORMAN — University of Oklahoma point guard Jeremiah Fears was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans with the seventh overall pick in the 2025 National Basketball Association Draft lat Wednesday night at Barclays Center, becoming the Sooners’ 50th all-time draft selection and 10th first-rounder.

Fears is OU’s fourth top-seven pick in the last 16 years, joining Blake Griffin (No. 1 in 2009), Buddy Hield (No. 6 in 2016) and Trae Young (No. 5 in 2018). The four top-seven selections going back to the 2009 draft are fifth most nationally, with only Kentucky (13), Duke (12) and Arizona and Kansas (five each) boasting more.

“Our staff is so happy for Jeremiah on this special night,” OU men’s coach Porter Moser said. “He joined our program last summer as a 17-year-old and was way beyond his years with his dedication, work ethic, humility and willingness to learn. He is an ultra-competitor and is driven to be the best. He has earned this incredible moment, and we are elated for him and his family.”

Fears, who turned 18 last October, was an Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team selection for OU last season when he averaged team highs of 17.1 points, 4.1 assists and 1.6 steals per contest. The four-time SEC Freshman of the Week also ranked third on the squad with 4.1 rebounds per outing and shot .434 from the field and .851 from the free-throw line in helping the Sooners to their first NCAA Tournament since 2021. His 183 free throw makes and 251 attempts both ranked second in the SEC.

The 6-4, 180-pounder from Joliet, Ill., ranked seventh overall in the SEC and seventh nationally among freshmen in points per game, and was one of just three Power Four conference players (the only one in the SEC and the only freshman) to average at least 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and 1.5 steals per contest.