Marcus Spears Jr: Family-Backed Confidence

Dynamic Prep (Dallas) junior Marcus Spears Jr., the son of professional athletes, tells the nation why he’s the top player in the class of 2027 and is here to stay.

For ESPN’s and 247Sports’ No. 1 player in the class of 2027, it has been a tale of two seasons. Dallas based Dynamic Prep, runner up in last year’s Chipotle Nationals, is taking part in a traditional high school schedule against scholastic teams all throughout the country. However, what makes things a little different is Dynamic Prep is one of the few programs in the nation also taking part in Overtime Elite, giving 6-foot-9 junior Marcus Spears Jr. a season unlike any of his other contemporaries

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“I’m looking forward to a new style of play. Overtime Elite has different rules compared to high school,” Marcus Spears Jr. told Ballislife after an event in Dallas about the move to OTE. “They have some NBA rules and a bigger court. I’m excited to be able to play both OTE and regular high school ball.”

The hybrid season has boded well for both Spears Jr. individually and for Dynamic Prep as a unit. The squad is ranked in the top 5 in most high school national rankings, and are sitting in second place in Overtime Elite at 11-3. In fact, Dynamic Prep is on an 8-game winning streak in OTE league play with an absolutely stacked roster that is gaining chemistry every single outing. The late addition of future McDonald’s All-American Austin Goosby provided an unexpected boost, but Spears Jr. was ready to accept the role of it being his team early on as a returner and hismessage: Winning comes before individual accolades.

“I’m trying to bring everything to the team that we had last year. Coach emphasizes that a lot, so I gotta bring that energy,” the 16-year old said of his newfound role as a leader for Dynamic Prep. “Just do whatever it takes to win because at the end of the day, we’re trying to win OTE and the Chipotle Championship.”

Expanding His Role and Game

In this situation, leadership was earned, not given. In one of the more unique situations in America, Spears Jr. came off of the bench last season for a Dynamic Prep unit that made the Chipotle Nationals finals and was completely fine with it. Coach Jermaine O’Neal brought the versatile forward along at his own pace and the lessons that the former McDonald’s All-American and All-NBA center provided his star pupil left priceless lessons, both on and off the court.

ESPN’s #1 ranked 2027 Marcus Spears Jr. (@mspearsjr)made his OTE debut over weekend with Dynamic Prep FAZE and showed he’s willing to accept role as go-to-guy with 28pts,9reb via a flurry of powerful drives and pull-up jumpers.

More on @Ballislife https://t.co/ZhtVTSrOAi pic.twitter.com/6ANSRjw6CS

— Rodger Bohn (@rodgerbohn) October 29, 2025

“It just helped me stay humble. Sometimes when you get on your high horse and think you’re better than what you are,” admitted Spears Jr. of coming off the bench last season despite being a Top 5 player in his class nationally. “I had better guys in front of me and I realized that, so it made me work every day against them. Now I’m at the level that I’m at because of them.”

The level he is referring to is at top the 2027 national rankings. The definition of a two-way forward, Spears Jr. has the ability to change the game on both ends of the floor with his motor, length, and athleticism. He is currently 9th in OTE in scoring at 20.9 points per game and is showing newfound confidence in his offensive game. Appearing much more comfortable playing facing the rim, the lefty is shooting the ball at a good rate with his feet set, can beat you with straight line drives attacking the rim, and will post smaller defenders when the opportunity presents itself. Add in his ability to finish above the rim as a cutter, offensive rebounder, or lob threat and you see why he can hang an efficient 20 points on you.

Defense Sets Spears Jr. Apart

However, both scouts and Marcus himself know that at this point of his career, the impact that he makes on the defensive end trumps any amount of points that he puts on the board. He has the agility to defend perimeter players on the wing and put pressure on the rock due to his length. Despite his slender frame, he has no problem mixing it up in the paint as both a shot-blocker (is presently 4th in OTE in blocked shots) or as a rebounder. It’s his ability on this end of the floor that allows him to change every game that he plays in the second he steps foot on the floor.

“It kind of came natural on the defensive end, but that’s also because I wasn’t good at offense. The way for me to get on the court was playing defense, so I had to do it in order to just play,” the versatile forward explained. “I had to defend my whole life and now I’m getting better offensively.”

The Developmental Curve

While the Drive Nation AAU product has certainly made substantial growth with the ball in his hands, he is far from a finished product. Marcus doesn’t quite have a go-to scoring move yet, is a bit streaky with his 3-point shot (30.8 3PT% in OTE play), and is developing ways to create separation off the dribble. His level of productivity and growth in these areas has silenced many critics, but Spears Jr. knows that he’s still got work to do on this end of the floor.

He has been putting in the work training with renowned NBA trainer Chris Brickley.

“I’m looking to really work on and keep showing my ball handling and shooting. I’m better than people think I am,” he said when critiquing his own offensive game. “Everyone knows I’m good in transition, can get on the rim, and can jump high…but I want to show people that I can do more than that.”

Confidence Comes From Home

Coming from an athletically gifted family of father Marcus Sr. (a former NFL lineman, two sport star, current ESPN analyst, former Grid-Hoop National Player of the Year and Student Sports Magazine cover subject) and mother Aiysa (former LSU women’s star and WNBA first round pick), mom and dad have kept the junior Spears grounded, yet also confident in his game and spot as the leader of the pack in the class of 2027.

“I’m the top player in 2027 because of how hard I play. Nobody will outwork me and I will shut anybody down. Now that the offense is coming, I’m becoming more of a threat and I’m a true two way player.”