It’s been a decade since Aiysha Smith last stepped on a basketball court. But, she still has what it takes to be a good basketball mom for her son, Marcus Spears Jr.
While she has mostly been active after her professional basketball career, Smith married former NFL defensive end Marcus Spears. The couple has three children from their marriage, and Spears Jr. is the second of the bunch.
Recently, Marcus beamed with pride while sharing a throwback photo of his wife, Aiysha, in her Washington Mystics uniform, crediting her WNBA prowess as the spark behind their son’s skyrocketing basketball trajectory. Something similar to the recent WNBA-NBA crossover.
Aiysha Smith Earns Praise From NFL Husband Marcus Spears For Son Marcus Spears Jr.’s Performance
Spears Jr., fresh off his Overtime Elite debut with FaZe Clan, dropped 28 points and nine rebounds. The younger Marcus embodied the fire that his mom lit in him.
6’9/2027 Marcus Spears Jr. #GASO@Mspearsjr #takemytalent pic.twitter.com/LLbkrgjsbj
— TAKE MY TALENT (@takemytalent) September 10, 2025
However, Spears made it clear that it was his mom’s touch around the rim and court vision that laid the foundation for his NBA dreams. A cheerful moment for the NFL fans as well as the basketball fans.
Taking to his Instagram account, Marcus gave it to Aiysha for her contribution as “straight bucket” helping their son land right on the basketball center stage.
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“Where @marcusjr31 gets it from @anaturalqt was a straight bucket,” he captioned his story.
The praise comes as Spears Jr. takes long strides as the nation’s top recruit. Spears, a former Dallas Cowboys first-rounder turned analyst, has long championed his wife’s influence. And now that Spears Jr. is getting all the recognition he deserves, the parents are up for it.
Aiysha Smith’s Son, Marcus Spears Jr. Named No. 1 Recruit In America
Marcus Spears Jr. claimed the throne back in August, when ESPN crowned him the No. 1 men’s basketball recruit in the Class of 2027. Given that he comes from a family where sports run in the blood, his hype around the recruiting circles has only gone up.
The 6-foot-7, 180-pound power forward from Plano, Texas, edged out peers with a 94 grade in ESPN’s SC Next 60, vaulting from No. 2 after rival Babatunde Oladotun reclassified to 2026.
“I have a lot of respect for my peers and they are great talents as well. To be recognized as the top player in the country in my class is not only an honor but a testament to all the work that’s been put in so far,” Marcus Jr. told ESPN.
Breaking: Marcus Spears Jr. is the new No. 1 player in the SC NEXT 60 for the Class of 2027. pic.twitter.com/3YedUVPlmX
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) August 14, 2025
This crowning glory traces straight to Aiysha Smith’s blueprint. The former Mystics guard, whose 2003 draft night mirrored Jr.’s poise, passed down her scoring IQ, and it shows up in his performance as he Jr. averaged 24.6 points and 10.2 rebounds at Dynamic Prep last season, shooting 52 percent inside the arc.