Texas is bringing one of the more intriguing NBA Draft watchlists in the country into the 2026-27 season. Marcus Spears Jr. headlines the group, but he’s hardly alone. With a mix of high-end freshmen, returning production, and a few players whose draft stock could swing quickly, the Longhorns have plenty of pro-level talent to track.
Spears Jr. is the name that jumps off the page first. The 6-foot-9, 205-pound freshman arrived as the No. 8 recruit in the 2026 high school class after originally ranking as a top-three prospect in the 2027 group before reclassifying. He’s the son of former NFL player and current NFL analyst Marcus Spears, and because players have to be 19 during the calendar year of the draft, he won’t be eligible until the 2028 NBA Draft.
The tools are obvious. Spears Jr. moves smoothly for his size and already has the kind of length NBA teams love, including a 7-foot-2 wingspan.
He can get down the floor, handle the ball in transition, and show some real comfort working inside. In the halfcourt, he’s building post footwork, can punish mismatches, and already has touch around the rim.
He’s also shown a post fadeaway jumper and can knock down midrange shots. As a passer, he’s still developing, but he can read the floor when defenses send help.
There’s a clear early role for him, too. Spears Jr. should be able to help as a finisher out of the dunker spot, and his short-roll ability could become a real weapon because he can put the ball on the deck, hit the midrange, and make the right pass.
Strength is still part of the equation, and getting stronger will matter. So will the three-point shot, which could open up more lineup flexibility at the next level.
Defensively, he already shows flashes of weakside rim protection and active off-ball instincts, with mobility and length giving him a chance to cover ground. Scouts will have two seasons to study him at Texas, and he’s currently viewed as a projected lottery pick in the 2028 NBA Draft.
Another freshman to watch is Goosby, who came in as a five-star and the No. 24 overall recruit in the 2026 class and played with Spears Jr. at Dynamic Prep. At 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, he brings the kind of positional size that translates.
He’s shown vertical pop going to the basket, makes quick decisions, and can connect the offense with simple, useful passes. There are also hints of secondary playmaking.
If the jumper comes along, his offensive ceiling rises fast.
Goosby also brings defensive value. He’s active off the ball, reads passing lanes, and can create plays on that end.
His on-ball defense will be worth watching this season, and added strength remains part of the development path. Right now, he’s projected as a late first-round pick in the 2027 NBA Draft, though his range is said to vary quite a bit.
Johnson enters the picture with a very different résumé. The 6-foot-1 guard had one of the best freshman seasons in the country last year at Colorado, putting up 16.9 points, three assists, 2.9 rebounds, and one steal per game.
He shot 64.1% at the rim on 142 attempts, 34.9% on non-rim twos on 43 attempts, 37.8% from three on 148 attempts, and 82.1% at the line on 195 attempts. He was the Buffaloes’ offensive engine, with 54.9% of his made field goals coming unassisted while assisting an estimated 18.6% of his teammates’ made field goals when he was on the floor.
Among freshmen who played at least 40% of their team’s minutes, he ranked 20th in Box Plus-Minus.
Punch brings size and versatility. The 6-foot-7, 245-pound junior averaged 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, two assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game at TCU last season.
He finished 58.5% at the rim on 205 attempts and 45.6% on non-rim twos on 103 attempts, though the outside shot lagged at 23.9% from three on 46 attempts and 65.3% at the line on 170 attempts. He also posted a 7.5 offensive rebound percentage, a 13.8 assist percentage, a 2.6 steal percentage, and a 7.4 block percentage.
What makes Punch interesting is the defensive package. He has the strength, physicality, lateral movement, and length to guard bigs, forwards, and wings.
He can protect the rim, rebound, and bring enough feel to hint at more as a playmaker. The swing skill is the jumper.
If he develops a reliable outside shot, the NBA case gets a lot stronger.
Then there’s the 7-footer, who had a productive sophomore season at Texas with 15.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. He also posted a 0.95 free-throw rate and made 66.8% of his shots at the rim on 247 attempts.
The size, strength, foul-drawing ability, and finishing are all there. The questions are tied to his rim protection, where he posted a 3.6 block percentage last season, along with his mobility and tendency to foul.
He’s another Texas prospect worth keeping close tabs on this season.
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