This offseason, Sean Miller and the Texas Longhorns landed the No. 5 recruiting class of 2026, headlined by five-star small forward Austin Goosby and five-star power forward Marcus Spears Jr., who reclassified from 2027.
Now, the pair of blue-chip prospects are two of the 11 new faces on the 40 Acres, and Miller couldn't have enough great things to say about his true freshmen.
"Looking at his talent, his ceiling, he might have the highest ceiling of anybody in our program. His talent level jumps off the charts… Being as young as he is, I can’t believe how bright he is in terms of learning on the court," Miller said of Spears, comparing him to a sponge at practices.
Also read: Texas just landed Marcus Spears Jr. and Longhorns fans are going berserk
Similarly, Miller had boatloads of praise for Goosby, who was the highest-rated player in Texas's recruiting class before Spears reclassified.
"He’s a super fun guy to coach. When he walks into the gym, he raises the level of his teammates. He’s like a silent assassin. He doesn’t say a lot, but I think his actions really lead by example," Miller said of Goosby.
Texas basketball is about to be taken over by newcomers
As two of the big names on campus now, a lot of eyes will be on Goosby and Spears, something that Miller also acknowledged during his recent media availability.
"He’s not just somebody who’s here to develop this year; he will impact our team, he will impact our team," Miller said about Spears. "He is just going to get better and better… when you see him in January or February, he won’t be the same basketball player."
Of course, they aren't the only players to join Texas ahead of the 2026-27 college season. Miller added 11 players to his roster, including six true freshmen and five transfer portal prospects.
- Marcus Spears Jr., five-star power forward, freshman
- Austin Goosby, five-star small forward, freshman
- David Punch, four-star power forward, transfer
- Isaiah Johnson, four-star point guard, transfer
- Elyjah Freeman, four-star small forward, transfer
- Bo Ogden, four-star shooting guard, freshman
- Amari Evans, four-star shooting guard, transfer
- Joe Sterling, four-star combo guard, freshman
- Mikey Lewis, four-star combo guard, transfer
- Mantas Laurencikas, point guard, freshman
- Coleman Elkins, center, freshman
Alongside Spears and Goosby are four other highly-touted freshmen, including four-star prospects Bo Ogden and Joe Sterling. Additionally, Miller tacked on five four-star transfer prospects to his depth chart, adding some much-needed experience to his roster.
While Goosby and Spears are undeniably the two players set to make headlines for the Longhorns this season during their first year of college basketball, every single player on the roster could make an impact.
Read more: Hype for Austin Goosby builds after highlight-reel game at McDonald's All-American
Miller even had to tip his metaphorical hat to returning players John Clark, Lewis Obiorah, and Anthon McDermott, who all saw minimal to no playing time last season, yet remained dedicated to their growth both on and off the court, which was a big reason the Longhorns kept them on the roster.
Similarly, he praised the work ethic of Matas Vokietaitis, a fourth returner for the Horns, who started as a bench warmer for the Horns last season, but became a pivotal part of Texas's run to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
Yes, Spears and Goosby are going to be a dynamic duo, and Miller wasn't shy about highlighting the abilities that they already possess, alongside the amount of growth he expects to see out of them by the time March Madness rolls around.
"I think what you’re gonna find is that these are two hard-working, humble, really bright people on and off the court," Miller said.
However, the entire Texas roster is what will make the Longhorns genuine contenders for this season's SEC Tournament title and an even deeper run in the Big Dance.
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