ESPN on Thursday dropped its SC NEXT 60 for the high school basketball Class of 2027, and a very familiar name sits at the top of the list.
Marcus Spears Jr. has been named by ESPN as the No. 1 basketball recruit in the country. And if his name sounds eerily familiar it’s because his father, Marcus Spears Sr., is an ESPN and Monday Night Football analyst. The elder Spears was a standout at LSU before he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the 20th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.
That Marcus Jr., a 6-foot-7 power forward, opted for basketball instead of football comes as no surprise. His father was once a highly touted basketball recruit who earned Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year honors in high school before committing to play football at the SEC powerhouse.
What’s more, Marcus Jr.’s mother was also a standout basketball star. Aiysha Smith played at LSU before the Washington Mystics selected her with the seventh overall pick in the 2003 WNBA Draft.
Breaking: Marcus Spears Jr. is the new No. 1 player in the SC NEXT 60 for the Class of 2027. pic.twitter.com/3YedUVPlmX
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) August 14, 2025
ESPN NFL analysts Marcus Spears and Ryan Clark came out to watch Marcus Spears Jr. at EYBL Session I 👀🏀 @nikeeyb
His 16U Drive Nation squad would fall to AZ Unity, 73-63. Spears Jr. finished with 14 pts and 10 rebs.@Mspearsjr | @DriveNation_Dfw pic.twitter.com/OWrB18AEkH
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) April 27, 2025
Suffice it to say, Marcus Jr. has some serious basketball pedigree.
“I have a lot of respect for my peers and they are great talents as well. To be recognized as the top player in the country in my class is not only an honor but a testament to all the work that’s been put in so far,” Marcus Jr. said via ESPN. “Much more work to do but honored to be in this spot. The work is all that matters.”
WASHINGTON – JUNE 11: Aiysha Smith #31 of the Washington Mystics passes the ball against Cheryl Ford #35 of the Detroit Shock during the game at MCI Center on June 11, 2004 in Washington, D.C. The Shock won 74-60. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2004 NBAE (Photo by: Mitchell Layton/NBAE via Getty Images)
Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
It goes without saying, Marcus Jr. will have plenty of collegiate options. According to the national recruiting site 247Sports, Marcus Jr. already has 12 offers, including from Kentucky, Houston and, of course, LSU.
No word if Marcus Sr. will encourage his son to follow in his parent’s footsteps and become a Tiger, but it’s safe to say Marcus Sr. will carve out time from his busy schedule as an NFL analyst to watch his son ball out.
Source:: Life – Fitness – mensjournal
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