NCAA Basketball Wiretap

Marcus Spears Jr., ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the 2027 class, is reclassifying to 2026 and committing to Texas, he told ESPN on Thursday. Arizona, LSU and Kentucky had also pursued the 6-foot-10 power forward.

Spears is a Texas native whose sister, Cari, plays volleyball for the Longhorns. He took an official visit to Arizona in late June and made two unofficial visits to Texas, including a trip to Austin on June 16.

"Texas basketball is becoming a big thing again, and I am excited to be part of it," said Spears. "The Texas fans can expect a worker with a lot of energy. I will be trying to bring Texas a national championship."

His father, ESPN analyst and former NFL defensive end Marcus Spears, said the decision carried personal meaning.

"Marcus Jr. grew up in Texas, and there's nothing like playing for your home school and winning," said the elder Spears. "I experienced that growing up in Louisiana at LSU. This is his decision and his future."

Spears, who plays for Dynamic Prep in Texas, averaged 20.9 points and 8.7 rebounds this spring on the Nike EYBL circuit, ranking top 10 nationally in both categories. He also helped Team USA win gold at the 2025 FIBA U16 Men's AmeriCup, averaging a team-high 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds.

Spears turned 17 in April and will need to spend two seasons in Austin before becoming draft eligible. Spears will play collegiately for at least the upcoming 2026-27 season and in 2027-28. 

His father cited Texas coach Sean Miller's track record developing players like Deandre Ayton and Aaron Gordon as a major factor in the decision.

The reclassification process began about a month ago after Spears' mother, former WNBA player Aiysha Spears, suggested the move. Spears will enter the 2026 SC Next 100 at No. 4 and joins a Texas recruiting class now ranked No. 4 nationally, alongside five-star forward Austin Goosby and four others.

According to Cerebro, only three other players since 2022 have matched Spears' EYBL production of 20 points, 8.5 rebounds and one block across three straight sessions in Cooper Flagg, Cameron Boozer and Tyran Stokes.

Serbian forward Nikola Kusturica has agreed to a multiyear commitment with UCLA, according to sources cited by ESPN. The 17-year-old is considered one of the top European prospects in his class and an early candidate for the No. 1 pick in the 2028 NBA Draft.

Kusturica remains two years away from NBA eligibility. His recruitment featured several shifts over the past month, with Kentucky briefly emerging as the frontrunner before Michigan gained momentum prior to Dusty May's departure for the Dallas Mavericks.

Gonzaga was also involved in pursuing the 6-foot-8 forward.

Kusturica delivered a standout performance at the FIBA Under-17 World Cup in Turkiye, earning a spot on the tournament's All-Star Five after averaging 24.6 points and 6.9 rebounds across seven games. He also claimed Best Defensive Player honors, adding 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per game.

In Serbia's gold medal loss to the United States, Kusturica posted 37 points and nine rebounds.

The performance marked his second consecutive summer establishing himself among the top international prospects. He earned MVP honors at last year's FIBA U16 EuroBasket, averaging 20.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists while leading Serbia to gold.

Kusturica has been part of FC Barcelona's youth system since 2023. He became the youngest player in club history to appear for Barcelona's first team when he made his competitive debut in September 2025.

UCLA coach Mick Cronin is expected to lean heavily on Kusturica despite his youth. The Bruins return three starters from last season's 24-12 squad and add four transfers from power-conference programs, including fellow Europeans Filip Jovic and Sergej Macura.

Five-star recruit Brandon McCoy Jr. will remain committed to Michigan after head coach Dusty May left the program for the Dallas Mavericks.

McCoy is ranked No. 18 in the SC Next 100 for the class of 2026.

Assistant coach Mike Boynton is currently the interim head coach of the program.

McCoy is one of six recruits for the 2026 class. The three other SC 100 prospects Quinn Costello, Lincoln Cosby, and Joseph Hartman are also expected to stay at Michigan.

FC Barcelona's Nikola Kusturica has reportedly committed to UCLA after receiving a $12 million NIL deal.

The 17-year-old was attracting interest from several college programs.

Kusturica is averaging 22.0 points and 6.8 rebounds in six games for Serbia at the FIBA U17 World Championship.

Kusturica made his Liga ACB debut for Barcelona in October 2025, becoming the youngest player to appear for the team in the competition.

Gabe Nesmith announced his commitment to Vanderbilt, giving head coach Mark Byington the highest-ranked recruit of his career.

Nesmith is ranked as the No. 20 player in the 2027 class.

"Mark Byington is a great and detail-oriented coach," Nesmith told ESPN. "He takes the time to get to know you as a person.

"He is a true players' coach. I watched practice -- he coaches team basketball. They are an unselfish group."

Nesmith is the cousin of Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith.