Kentucky reaches out to top 10 2027 recruit Marcus Spears Jr.

Team USA's Marcus Spears Jr. - FIBA U16 AmeriCup 2025 — Team USA's Marcus Spears Jr. drives to the basket against a Mexican defender. (Photo credit: FIBA U16 AmeriCup 2025 official website)

Marcus Spears Jr. joined a long list of 2027 recruits to hear from the Kentucky coaching staff since the contact period opened over the weekend.

According to DuShawn London of 247Sports, Kentucky was one of several schools to talk with Spears once the calendar switched over to June 15. The 6-foot-7, 170-pound wing has also heard from Duke, Arizona, Arkansas, Virginia, Maryland, and Houston, while picking up offers from Miami (FL), SMU, LSU, Indiana, and Tennessee. Spears is considered the No. 9 overall rising high school senior in the country, per the On3 Industry Ranking.

A product of Dynamic Prep (Plano, TX), Spears is one of at least a dozen class of 2027 recruits who have heard from the Wildcats since the contact period opened roughly 36 hours ago.

Top 5 prospect Marcus Spears Jr. has heard from the following programs so far, @247sports is told.

– Miami (offer)
– Duke
– Kentucky
– SMU (offer)
– Arizona
– Arkansas
– LSU (offer)
– Indiana (offer)
– Virginia
– Tennessee (offer)
– Maryland
– Houstonhttps://t.co/CyGxZafKjc pic.twitter.com/6JuoAFN84k
— Dushawn London (@DushawnLondon1) June 15, 2025

Spears is the son of Marcus Spears Sr., who enjoyed a nine-year playing career in the NFL after starring at LSU as a defensive end. He talked with Jacob Polacheck of KSR+ last month to break down Kentucky’s interest in his talented son. Kentucky associate coach Alvin Brooks went to visit the Spears family in April for a quick check-in.

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“I know the history of Kentucky basketball,” Spears Sr. said. “I know [Mark] Pope did a really good job this year. He did it with a lot of transfers and obviously made the tournament. Historically, Kentucky is obviously one of the blue-bloods. That’s what I know about it.”

Kentucky has yet to officially extend the younger Spears an offer, but that could change now that Pope and Co. can directly talk with him. UK assistant coach Mikhail McLean was representing UK at the FIBA U16 AmeriCup earlier this month, where Spears was a participant. So far, the ‘Cats have offered just three 2027 recruits: PF C.J. Rosser (No. 1 overall), SF Baba Oladotun (No. 2 overall), and Obinna Ekezie Jr. (No. 4 overall).

Spears helped lead Team USA to a gold medal at the AmeriCup in Mexico, averaging 14 points, 6.5 rebounds, two steals, 1.8 blocks, and 1.7 assists in 16.7 minutes per outing. Across six games played (all wins), he shot 60.8 percent from the field, 35.3 percent from deep, and 72.7 percent from the free throw line.