After years of futility, Michigan State basketball feels like it’s currently lost and looking to regain its identity as one of the hard-nosed national title contenders in the sport.

Since Cassius Winston graduated, it’s been fighting for NCAA Tournament berths every year, it seems, and that included the 2023-24 season in which the Spartans were ranked in the top five to start the year but stumbled early and often — we all should have known it’d be a long year after the James Madison loss at home.

It feels like Tom Izzo has lost his touch a bit, but he has what all of his previous great teams have had heading into the season: a budding star at point guard.

We all thought that AJ Hoggard was going to be that, but Jeremy Fears Jr. is the guy who everyone is excited to see grow into something special and he already has all the traits necessary to that this program back to the next level.

Now that Fears has been granted a medical redshirt following a devastating gunshot wound to his thigh back in December that ended his freshman season, fans are excited about what a full four years of him could be. Obviously, he could go pro before then, but all the great Michigan State point guards seemed to be four-year players and Fears could be next.

Fears is a natural leader with elite passing ability and he has worked hard on his offensive game to get his shoot looking smooth and efficient. If he can hit shots on a regular basis, he’s going to be a problem for defenses — more so than he already is.

And hearing Izzo compare Fears to Mateen Cleaves even before his freshman season should have been a sign that this kid is special. And he’s only getting better.

We’ve seen Fears appear to be back to 100 percent this offseason, dunking the ball and dominating open gyms while filling in for Jaden Akins at Moneyball, so his growth should be evident in 2024-25.

If there’s one player who could save the program from prolonged mediocrity, it’s Jeremy Fears Jr.