Natalia Chi
Joliet West’s Jeremy Fears Jr. has been named a contestant in the prestigious McDonald’s All-American game.
Senior is the first Illinois player since Max Christie in 2021.
The last time the Chicago area attended a game was Stevenson’s Jalen Brunson in 2015. Young’s DJ Steward said he was selected for 2020, but no games actually took place due to COVID-19.
“He seems to have the best of both worlds,” said Jeremy Fears Sr. “He got the chance to go home and play in his hometown with his brother and it was a great honor. People will never forget this. It’s forever.”
Fears played for Joliet West as a freshman and transferred to La Lumiere, a prep school in Indiana, when COVID delayed his sophomore season. He rose to national prominence with his La Lumiere, which he regularly plays on ESPN.
Fears, who signed with Michigan in November, won two gold medals playing for the US team in the summer. He is the highest-ranked player in the state, currently on ESPN where he is checked in at number 20.
Michael Thompson, a Joliet native who attended Providence, was a McDonald’s All-American in 2002. he played for Duke.
Hinsdale native Matas Buzeris, who plays for Sunrise Christians in Kansas, was also selected to play in this year’s game.
McDonald’s All-American Game will be held March 28 at the Toyota Center in Houston. Last year it was held at Wintrust his arena in Chicago.
Illinois McDonald’s All-Americans
Mark Aguirre, Westinghouse, 1978
Cliff Alexander, Curie, 2014
Eric Anderson, Saint Francis de Sales, 1988
Nick Anderson, Simeon, 1986
Wayne Blackshear, Morgan Park, 2011
Jamie Brandon, King, 1990
Andre Brown, Leo, 2000
Dee Brown, Proviso East, 2002
Shannon Brown, Proviso East, 2003
Jalen Branson, Stevenson, 2015
Max Christie, Rolling Meadows, 2021
Chris Collins, Glenbrook North, 1992
Sheron Collins, Crane, 2006
Brian Cook, Lincoln, 1999
Russell Cross, Manly, 1980
Deryl Cunningham, St. Joseph, 1987
Eddie Curry, Thornwood, 2001
Anthony Davis, Perspective, 2011
Sean Dockery, Julian, 2002
Bruce Douglas, Quincy, 1982
Walter Downing, Providence, 1981
Michael Dunnigan, Farragut, 2008
Lafonso Ellis, East St. Louis Lincoln, 1988
Melvin Ealy, Thornton, 1997
Jeremy Fears Jr., Joliet West, 2023
Ronnie Fields, Farragut, 1996
Bobby Fraser, Brother Rice, 2005
Kevin Garnett, Farragut, 1995
Marcus Griffin, Peoria Manual, 1997
Rashard Griffiths, King, 1993
Teddy Grubbs, King, 1979
Lowell Hamilton, Providence St. Mel, 1985
Phil Henderson, Creta Monée, 1986
Bill Heppner, Crystal Lake, 1987
Ed Horton, Springfield Lanfear, 1985
Juwan Howard, Profession, 1991
Richard Keene, Collinsville, 1992
Tom Kleinschmidt, Gordon Tech, 1991
Marcus Liberty, King, 1987
Sean Livingston, Peoria Central, 2004
Corey Maggett, Fenwick, 1998
Roger McLendon, Champaign Centennial, 1984
Raymond McCoy, Bloom, 1979
Darius Miles, East St. Louis, 2000
Howard Nathan, Peoria Manual, 1991
Jalil Okafor, Young, 2014
Jabari Parker, Simeon, 2013
Michael Payne, Quincy, 1981
Quentin Richardson, Young, 1998
Jeremy Richmond, Wakigan, 2010
Glenn Rivers, Disclaimer East, 1980
Michael Robinson, Peoria Richwoods, 1996
Derrick Rose, Simeon, 2007
John Scheer, Glenbrook North, 2006
Iman Shumpert, Oak Park, 2008
DJ Steward, Young, 2020
Barry Sumpter, Lovejoy, 1983
Darryl Thomas, St. Joseph, 1983
Deon Thomas, Simeon, 1989
Isaiah Thomas, St. Joseph, 1979
Michael Thompson, Providence, 2002
Raymond Thompson, Argo, 1988
Tyler Uris, Marian Catholic, 2014
Chuck Baderber, Lincoln, 1978
Antoine Walker, Mount Carmel, 1994
Frank Williams, Peoria Manual, 1998
Efrem Winters, King, 1982
Julian Wright, Homewood Flossmoor, 2005
