A little less than two years ago, Jeremy Fears was not only the talk of Athens and Ohio basketball, but the nation as well.
The poster boy of the short-lived it team era, Fears captivated onlookers with his no-look passes, clutch jumpers and occasional backflips. One year removed from a Mid-American Conference championship and as just a sophomore, Fears appeared to have a bright future in line as the Bobcats' starting point guard.
But just a few weeks before the 2005-06 Mid-American Conference Tournament, Fears quit the team.
At the time of his departure, Fears cited personal reasons pertaining to his family back home in Joliet, Ill., as to why he left the team, according to a Post article from Feb. 2006. He also said he wanted to explore his options and try to find the right fit.
But Fears never found the right fit. After brief stints at Iowa State and Bradley, Fears currently is not on a Division I roster, and, in all likelihood, will never be again.
It was a classic case where he was going to have issues everywhere he went
coach Tim O'Shea said recently. He was the one that needed to change.
Fears' story is one that O'Shea needs to not dwell on, as he has brought in a number of talented and successful recruits in his seven years with Ohio, but it is something he has kept in the back of his mind when looking for new blood.
Whenever a kid doesn't work out you try to examine why it didn't he said.
What O'Shea has found is that he needs to look at more than just a prospect's skills on the court. He's looking at the situation off the court, specifically with the environment the player comes from.
I'm looking more and more at family dynamics
O'Shea said. I want to see if they've come out of an environment where education is important
or discipline is stressed
where there is an understanding on what it's going to take to be successful in college.
If I see a dysfunctional family situation, or what I see as a dysfunctional situation in general, I've become very cautious in bringing someone like that into this environment. This is not an easy school.
With one of his biggest recruiting classes in recent years
O'Shea should know immediately whether this more in-depth analysis of recruits pays off. Ohio returns a strong core with three starters and two reserves from last year's squad
but many position battles will be wide open
all but ensuring that at least one or two recruits will see significant playing time.
As of now
Ohio will have seven new players available for its season opener against New Mexico State on Nov. 9
including forward Justin Orr
