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Texas continues to stack talent with the addition of five-star forward Marcus Spears Jr. Plus: UCLA signed Nikola Kusturica, an Ohio injunction made several players eligible, and more.
Sam Lance
July 10, 2026
In partnership with
It was a busy Thursday from commitments, to major news across the college basketball. Let’s get to it.
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1. Texas continues to stack talent
In Sean Miller’s first 16 months at Texas, he’s been one possession away from an Elite Eight, coached a player into a top 15 NBA Draft selection and signed a top transfer portal class.
He’s now landed a No. 1 high school prospect with Marcus Spears Jr., the top player in the 2027 class, announcing his commitment to the Longhorns on Thursday. The 6-10 forward will also reclassify and join a loaded 2026-27 roster.
Spears Jr., the son of former NFL player Marcus Spears and WNBA player Aiysha Spears, chose the Longhorns over interest from Arizona, Kentucky, LSU and several others. His sister, Cari, plays volleyball at Texas and was a 2025 All-SEC First Team selection.
The five-star forward is a perfect piece to round out Texas’ roster, as he brings a ton of versatility and doesn’t necessarily have to score to impact games. Spears Jr. can play the 3 but is most naturally a 4.
On the EYBL circuit this spring, Spears Jr. was the only player top 10 in points (20.9) and rebounds (8.7) per game. He joined Cooper Flagg, Cameron Boozer and Tyran Stokes as the only players since 2022 to average 20 points, 8.5 rebounds and one block in three straight EYBL sessions, per ESPN.
Not a bad list to be a part of, and the five-star forward also helped Team USA to the FIBA U16 gold medal last summer, averaging a team-high 14.5 points per game. You can find some of his highlights here.
With Spears Jr. in the fold, here’s a reminder of what Texas’ roster will look like next season:
That’s a loaded group, and it’s also important to note that with Spears Jr.’s birthday of April 8, 2009, he won’t be eligible for the 2027 NBA Draft. He’ll have to play two seasons in college.
“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."
2. UCLA officially adds Nikola Kusturica
Rumors swirled for weeks about Serbian prospect Nikola Kusturica's decision. We no longer have to guess his destination.
The 6-9 wing will be a UCLA Bruin.
