Duke is aggressively targeting Marcus Spears Jr., a 6’7″ power forward from Dynamic Prep in Plano, Texas, as part of its early recruiting efforts for the 2027 class. Ranked as high as No. 3 nationally, Spears Jr. has become a significant name on the radar of elite college programs.
While his father, Marcus Spears Sr., built a successful career in the NFL as a defensive lineman, the younger Spears has forged his own path on the hardwood. Despite his football lineage, Spears Jr. committed to basketball early and has quickly risen as one of the sport’s brightest prospects.
Duke Targets Top-Three 2027 Recruit Marcus Spears Jr.
Duke has entered the race for Marcus Spears Jr., a highly regarded 6’7″ power forward from Dynamic Prep in Plano, Texas. Ranked as high as No. 3 nationally in the 2027 class, Spears Jr. continues to draw major interest from top programs.
According to a post from @BlueDevils, Duke officially reached out, marking another milestone in his fast-rising basketball journey.
REPORT: Duke has reached out to 2027 5⭐️ Marcus Spears Jr. (@Mspearsjr)‼️ pic.twitter.com/V4sGHjGNqB
— Blue Devils (@BlueDevils) June 15, 2025
Spears recently scheduled an unofficial visit to SMU, per a report from On3. He already holds scholarship offers from SMU, Texas, Stanford, LSU, and Oklahoma State. The Mustangs are 20-6 overall and stand fourth in the ACC during their inaugural year in the league.
Despite being far from a final decision, Spears knows what he is seeking in a college.
“I want to play for a coach that I know will tell me the truth. At the end of the day, I want to get to the league, so I want to play for a coach that will help me get there,” Spears Jr. told On3. “I’m a system player, so I want to play for a coach who runs a good system.
“But I also want to go to a school where I know I can develop my game. Be able to go and get a bucket if the team needs one.”
Paul Biancardi of ESPN offered high praise, calling Spears “an excellent athlete” and adding,
“At 6’7″, his ball-handling and passing stand out. He was productive in training camp scrimmages as a lob-catcher, rebounder, and second-chance scorer.”
Biancardi noted that Spears grew more active in practice by contesting shots, scoring inside the arc, and playing strong transition defense. He also highlighted Spears’ “coachability” and drew comparisons to Tayshaun Prince and Lamar Odom.
Spears is ranked No. 4 in the 2027 class by 247Sports.
“I play hard,” Spears Jr. told Zagsblog. “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.”
This past season, Spears helped lead Dynamic Prep to the Chipotle Nationals title game. Off the bench, he contributed nine points, 13 rebounds, and three steals over 46 minutes while hitting two of three attempts from beyond the arc.
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He will suit up this summer with Drive Nation 16U alongside fellow five-star sophomore Ryan Hampton.
“That’s one of my cousins,” Spears Jr. said. “So I’m just looking to go win Peach Jam.”
His athletic roots run deep. Spears Jr. is the son of former NFL lineman and current ESPN analyst Marcus Spears, while his mother, Aiysha (Smith) Spears, was the No. 7 pick in the 2003 WNBA Draft.
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