The New Orleans Pelicans selected Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears with the No. 7 pick in the NBA Draft on Wednesday.

Fears averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists to help OU to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2020-2021 season. He played just one season with the Sooners and was almost immediately tabbed as a lottery pick when he announced his intention to enter the draft.

“If this brother develops a consistent jump shot, I’m telling you right now, I’m looking at the second coming of Kyrie Irving,” ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith said upon the selection.

The Mavericks helped Irving by taking Duke forward Cooper Flagg with the first overall pick. Flagg was followed by Rutgers guard Dylan Harper to the San Antonio Spurs, Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe to the Philadelphia 76ers, Duke guard Kon Knueppel to the Charlotte Hornets, and Rutgers forward Ace Bailey to the Utah Jazz in the top five.

Fears had been projected to go sixth overall to the Washington Wizards in the final USA TODAY Sports mock draft, but that spot went to Texas guard Tre Johnson.

Fears is the first Oklahoma men’s basketball player taken in the draft since Trae Young in 2018. Other Sooners first-round picks since 1989 include Buddy Hield (No. 6 in 2016), Blake Griffin (No. 1 in 2009), Mookie Blaylock (No. 12 in 1989), and Stacey King (No. 6 in 1989).

Fears represented the Sooners well in his post-selection interview on ESPN.

“It means the world to me just being able to go out here and show the world what Oklahoma basketball can bring,” Fears said.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Pelicans take OU guard Jeremiah Fears with No. 7 pick in NBA Draft