Marcus Spears Jr., the No. 1 prep player in ESPN’s 2027 rankings, has moved up a class and will suit up for Texas in the 2026–27 season, ESPN reported. The 6’10” power forward, still only 17, said the jump means “I’m going to have to work for everything I get,” noting he averaged just eight minutes a game as a sophomore at Dynamic Prep before earning a starting role as a junior.
Spears is the son of former NFL defensive end and current ESPN analyst Marcus Spears Sr. and ex-WNBA player Aiysha Spears. Because of his age, he is not eligible for the NBA draft until 2028, where he is already projected as a candidate for the No. 1 pick alongside Duke freshman Joaqim Boumtje Boumtje, who recently guided Team USA to gold and claimed MVP honors at the FIBA U17 World Cup.
Nikola Kusturica commits to UCLA
Another projected 2028 lottery pick, Serbian point forward Nikola Kusturica, has accepted a multiyear scholarship offer from UCLA, according to ESPN. The 6’9” guard averaged 37 points and nine rebounds in Serbia’s silver-medal loss to the United States at the U17 World Cup and was named to the tournament’s All-Star Five. Bruins head coach Mick Cronin called Kusturica “an elite prospect with great size, skill and competitive fire.”
Slower cap growth reshapes team strategy
Sportico’s Lev Akabas reports that the NBA’s salary cap is rising more slowly than many clubs anticipated, complicating long-term payroll planning. Jaylen Brown’s super-max contract with Boston, initially worth 35% of the cap, will represent 35.4% in Year 3 as its 8% raises outpace leaguewide growth. The NBA’s early projection for 2027-28 signals just a 5.5% increase, well below the 10% cap many front offices had built into their models.
Colangelo-backed group files Las Vegas expansion bid
Former NBA owner and executive Jerry Colangelo has joined Horizon Sports & Experiences CEO David Levy to form the Las Vegas Jacks, an investor group seeking an expansion franchise in Las Vegas, Front Office Sports revealed. Ex-NBA guards Jay Williams and Vinny Del Negro are also part of the consortium. Multiple parties are pursuing a Sin City club, while only one group—headed by Seattle Kraken governor Samantha Holloway—has publicly declared an interest in reviving an NBA team in Seattle.
Source: Hoops Rumors
