Top-five sophomore Marcus Spears Jr. talks early recruitment
By SAM LANCE
FISHERS, IN — Marcus Spears Sr. dominated the NFL gridiron, but his son? He’s rewriting the family legacy on the hardwood.
Believe it or not, football was never really part of the equation. Marcus Spears Jr. said his father never wanted him to play. He suited up for one season in seventh grade, but after that?
“I just hung it up and I never went back,” Spears Jr. told ZAGSBLOG.
Fast forward a few years, the 6-foot-7, 180-pound power forward is now one of the best sophomores in high school basketball. Spears Jr. is ranked the No. 4 overall prospect in the 2027 class by 247Sports.
“I play hard,” Spears Jr. said of his game. “I try to let the game come to me. My dad always tells me to get on the defensive side and then the offensive side will come. So I try to focus on defense and then the offense will come.”
Spears Jr. played this past high school season with Dynamic Prep and helped his squad reach the championship game of Chipotle Nationals. In a limited bench role, Spears totaled nine points, 13 rebounds and three stocks in 46 minutes of action. He also shot 2-of-3 (66.7%) from 3-point range.
This summer, Spears Jr. will be playing with Drive Nation 16u along with his fellow five-star sophomore teammate on Dynamic Prep, Ryan Hampton.
“That’s one of my cousins,” Spears Jr. said. “So I’m just looking to go win Peach Jam. And then coach Manny [Emmanuel Calton], that’s the coach I brought with me from Pro Skills and we’ve just been together ever since. So we’re just trying to go win Peach Jam.”
Hampton is someone Spears Jr. would like to play with in college.
“And then hopefully I get to play with one of my teammates one day,” Spears Jr. said.
Ryan Hampton and Marcus Spears Jr. active in the first half for Dynamic Prep @DynamicPrepSch I #ChipotleNationals pic.twitter.com/KVP0qPmM83
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) April 4, 2025
On the recruitment front, Spears Jr. had SMU, Tennessee and Texas in to see him during high school season. He’s taken unofficial visits to SMU and Texas with its previous staff. Spears Jr. named Oklahoma State and Stanford as other schools in the mix. He also has an offer from LSU.
Here’s his breakdown of a few of the schools in contact:
SMU: “SMU is just a great program. Like coach [Jeremie] Hart said, they’re building the program and they’re looking to come up. And also Jermaine [O’Neal Jr.] and Jaden [Toombs] going there, so it would also help my teammates going there. So its just a building program and it’s nice down there.” Mainly in contact with head coach Andy Enfield and Hart.
What signees O’Neal Jr. and Toombs have told him about SMU: “They told me a lot. They’re just a building program. That’s what they really preach. One day they’ll be good. So that’s just what they’re trying to tell me. And then also if I come there, they’re saying I’ll help the program be good. So that’s really it.”
Tennessee: “That’s my coaches talking with me. They haven’t told me who’s in contact with me yet. But I know he talked to him maybe two days ago. So I’m just waiting to see on Tennessee.”
Texas: “Texas is a great place. My sisters down there playing volleyball. So that’s really what I like about that. And then Texas, it’s Austin. Austin is just a great college city. It’s big. So I really like Texas.” Sean Miller hasn’t reached out yet, but Spears Jr. is “looking forward to it.”
Right now, Spears Jr. doesn’t have any other visits in mind. He may see Arizona State while he’s in the area at EYBL Session 1. When he does start taking more visits, what is he looking for?
“I’ve said this from my first interview to this one right here, I’m looking for a coach that won’t lie to me,” Spears Jr. said. “He’ll tell me the truth, tell me what I need to hear and not what I want to hear. So that’s really what I’m looking for. Just a coach that has a good staff around them. Good nutritionist, good health people around me that are keeping my body healthy. So that’s really what I’m looking for.”
Spears Jr. will be working on a lot of different aspects of his game this summer.
“I’m labbin’ on probably my ball handling,” Spears Jr. said. “My shots starting to come along a little bit. What I do is play hard. I can play around the rim. Really, I can do what I want to do in 16s EYBL, but I’m trying to get to do what I want to do with older guys. So this is also why I’m playing prep. It’s harder competition. See if I can do what I do on 16s.”
Off the court, Spears Jr. enjoys hunting and fishing. The five-star said he and his father are “country boys” and love the outdoors. Spears Sr., having gone through it as an athlete, has given his son various tips on a successful career, but one has stood out.
“Really he just teaches me work,” Spears Jr. said. “If you work you can get anything and then be humble. I’m like third in the country right now, but I just got to stay down because I still haven’t gotten to where I want to. Just be humble.”
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