Sean Miller and Texas men’s basketball have picked up a big win on the recruiting trail.
Marcus Spears Jr., the top-ranked player in the 2027 recruiting class, announced on Instagram on Thursday that he has committed to the Longhorns and will reclassify into the program’s 2026 recruiting class.
“The next chapter,” Spears Jr., the son of former NFL defensive lineman Marcus Spears, wrote in an Instagram post that also had the Texas “HookEm” hashtag.
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He chose Texas over the likes of Arizona, Arkansas, LSU and Alabama among other power conference programs.
“Texas basketball is becoming a big thing again, and I am excited to be part of it,” Spears Jr. told ESPN. “The Texas fans can expect a worker with a lot of energy. I will be trying to bring Texas a national championship.”
As noted by ESPN, Spears Jr. was the only player to rank in the top 10 in both scoring and rebounding on the Nike EYBL circuit this spring, averaging 20.9 points and 8.7 rebounds. He additionally helped lead USA Basketball to a gold medal at the FIBA U16 Men’s AmeriCup in 2025.
He becomes the second member of the Spears family to play at Texas as his older sister, Cari Spears, is a member of the Longhorns’ volleyball team. Cari Spears started all 30 matches for the Longhorns this season and earned AVCA Third Team All-American honors.
Miller lands his second five-star recruit to the Longhorns’ 2026 recruiting class, with the other being Spears Jr.’s fellow Dynamic Prep teammate, five-star strong forward Austin Goosby, the No. 18 best player in the class according to 247Sports’ Composite Rankings.
Coming off an improbable Sweet 16 run, Texas is expected to have one of the top rosters in the country next season, as they landed Isaiah Johnson, Amari Evans and Elyjah Freeman in the transfer portal this past offseason.
Here’s more on Spears Jr.:
Marcus Spears Jr. 247Sports
247Sports’ Composite Rankings had Spears Jr. listed as a five-star recruit and the No. 2-ranked player in the 2027 recruiting class. He was additionally the second-ranked power forward and the top-ranked player in the state of Texas in the class.
Marcus Spears Jr. highlights
Here’s a compilation of highlights of Spears Jr.:
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Marcus Spears Jr. commitment: 5-star picks Texas, reclassifies to 2026 class
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