Louisville basketball is making a push in the 2027 recruiting class at the moment, but the Cardinals recently learned they just missed on one of the top recruits in the cycle. The Cardinals have emerged as one of the top landing spots in college basketball since Pat Kelsey arrived, earning multiple top-three Transfer Portal classes and landing two 5-star high school recruits.
However, earlier this week, Louisville fans saw 5-star recruit Marcus Spears commit to the Texas Longhorns over the Cardinals and others. Louisville was one of 26 teams to extend an offer to the 2027 5-star recruit, including major programs such as Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, LSU, and others.
But he ultimately committed to the Texas Longhorns, and the Cards fans learned they won’t have to wait long to play him as Spears also reclassified to the 2026 recruiting class, meaning Louisville will play him in December.
NEWS: 5⭐️ Marcus Spears Jr. has committed to Texas and is reclassifying to the 2026 class to play for the Longhorns this upcoming season, per his Instagram page.
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) July 9, 2026
The 6-9 power forward chose Texas over offers from Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, LSU, and others.… pic.twitter.com/0IOJu7kFmN
5-star PF Marcus Spears Jr. commits to Texas
The Cardinals have had two commitments in the 2027 recruiting class reclassified to the 2026 recruiting class. Louisville landed the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit and unanimous 5-star center Obinna Ekezie Jr., and also landed 3-star shooting guard Isaac Ellis. Both recruits reclassified to the 2026 recruiting class, meaning they are at Louisville this summer and will be on the team's roster this upcoming season.
Well, similarly to Ekezie and Ellis, Spears decided to reclassify and join the Longhorns in 2026 rather than 2027. So now, not only does that mean Louisville didn’t land the elite 5-star power forward, but the Cardinals will also play their former target this winter.
Louisville plays Texas this December at home in the KFC Yum! Center on December 1. The Cardinals and Longhorns are expected to be two of the top teams in the nation this upcoming season, and Louisville’s showdown with Texas just got harder.
Spears is an elite scorer who ranked as high as No. 1 overall in the 2027 recruiting class. The 6-foot-10 power forward played in the Nike EYBL Circuit this spring and absolutely dominated, averaging 20.9 points and 8.7 rebounds and ranking in the top 10 in both categories.
On top of playing in Nike’s EYBL circuit, the elite 5-star played for Team USA in the FIBA U16 Men's AmeriCup in 2025, where the Texas commit averaged a USA Basketball high of 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds and earned All-Star Five honors.
Now, the former Louisville target will travel to the Center, where he will be a valuable piece for the Longhorns. Spears ranks as high as No. 6 overall in the 2026 recruiting class after reclassifying, slightly ahead of Louisville’s 5-star commit, who ranks No. 14 after reclassifying.
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