ATLANTA (July 28, 2022) - Overtime Elite kicked off day four of its signing week with the announcement of point guard Jeremy Fears and big man Jayden Williams. Both players bring elite skill sets and a competitive edge to the league as season two kicks off this fall in Atlanta. Fears and Williams join other highly-coveted prospects including Naas Cunningham, Trey Parker, Kanaan Carlyle, Jahki Howard, Bryson Tiller, ZZ Clark and Tyler Bey as OTE’s newest signees. Fears and Williams have signed a scholarship option preserving their NCAA basketball eligibility.

As season two approaches, Fears and Williams will compete against some of the best teenage basketball players including Ausar and Amen Thompson, Jazian Gortman, and Alexandre Sarr. Building on the success of OTE’s historic first season, Fears and Williams’ games will be showcased for millions of fans this season across social media channels and YouTube.

Fears is a 6’1” point guard from Joliet, Illinois. He is a savvy point guard that loves to get his teammates involved first with great vision on the court. He can also finish well around the basket and has a quick release. He has had a big summer playing in the FIBA U17 World Cup in Malaga, Spain, earning honorable mention honors from ESPN for being one of the best players in the tournament. In the championship game, Fears finished with 17 points and a game-high six assists in a 79-67 win over Spain for the title. It was his second experience with USA Basketball after winning a gold medal in the FIBA U16 Americas Championship in Mexico last summer. Fears is currently committed to play at Michigan State.

“Jeremy’s competitive spirit is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think about the dynamic he brings to our league,” said Tim Fuller, OTE Vice President of Recruiting and Player Personnel. “He’s the definition of a competitive and elite defender that will add toughness and physicality to our program. He plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder which makes him difficult to guard and even more difficult to escape on defense.”

“Jeremy is a true point guard and makes everyone on his team better when he’s on the floor,” said Kevin Ollie, OTE Head Coach and Director of Player Development. “He’s had some great experiences already playing with USA Basketball and high level players all over the world, so he’ll bring that into our program as we continue developing his game.”

Williams is a five star, 6’9” center from Chicago. He most recently played at Brookwood High School in Lilburn, Georgia where he was a force in the paint on both ends of the floor using his 7-5 wingspan and athleticism. Last season, he recorded a triple double with 10 blocks. Williams has also developed his outside shot and can stretch the floor. Williams plays AAU for the Atlanta Celtics.

“Jayden’s shot blocking and finishing at the rim is a welcome addition to our front court,” said Tim Fuller, OTE Vice President of Recruiting and Player Personnel. “Two of the things that stand out about Jayden are his ability to run the floor, and he can catch and finish through traffic.” 

“Jayden’s an elite player with a large upside who will benefit tremendously from our development resources,” said Kevin Ollie, OTE Head Coach and Director of Player Development. “You can’t teach the length and athleticism he brings to the court, so as he uses OTE’s resources to continue developing his overall game, his potential is limitless.”

Every contracted OTE player is offered a six-figure salary, with a guaranteed minimum salary of at least $100,000 per year, plus bonuses and shares of equity in Overtime. In addition, players will participate in revenue from use of their name, image and likeness, including through sales of custom jerseys, trading cards, video games and NFTs. Starting this season, players have the option to choose a scholarship or salary option. 

ABOUT OTE

Overtime Elite (OTE) is a professional basketball league featuring top 17-20-year-old domestic and international players. There are three teams in the league, and games are played primarily at the OTE Arena in Atlanta. OTE, owned and operated by Overtime, brings fans as close as possible to the action through broad digital distribution on accounts that have millions of followers. 

While playing in the league, players receive innovative, cutting-edge education and training to prepare them for college and professional basketball. OTE's three founding sponsors are State Farm, Gatorade and Meta Quest.