The couple met on the campus of LSU. About two decades later, they’ve become leading voices of youth sports as their children see major success on and off the court.
DALLAS — The number one volleyball player in the country last year and the number three basketball player in the 2027 class both come from the same home, the children of Marcus and Aiysha Spears.
Mom and Dad met on the campus of LSU in Baton Rouge. Aiysha was a basketball player, and Marcus played on the football team. One evening, all the athletes were headed out.
Marcus recounted, “When literally like a movie,” he begins, “When I walked out, I saw her. She had a skirt on. She had a shirt with a tiger on the front of it and some boots, and I was like Oh, I got to have her.”
Aiysha says they became good friends first, which blossomed into a love that has led them to nearly 20 years of marriage and three beautiful children: Macaria “Cari” Spears, Marcus Spears, Jr., and Miko Spears.
Their daughters play volleyball while their son follows in his mom’s footsteps as a basketball player.
When WFAA asked, “Who’s the best athlete in this house?”
The usually reserved Aiysha came alive and shot her hand up right away.
“Was fortunate to be drafted by the Mystics first round, #7, you know,” she teased, “Highest draft pick in the house… me.”
After a good laugh, Marcus rolled his eyes in jest but conceded. He was a first-round draft pick, selected 20th overall, by the Dallas Cowboys. Now, you can catch him as an analyst on ESPN.
When it comes to drafts, though, Marcus Jr. could have them both beat one day. He stood 6’8” as a sophomore and a standout player for Dynamic Prep in Irving. The blue bloods of college basketball are already watching high school career closely. Marcus Jr. has received calls from Duke, Kentucky and mom and dad’s alma mater, LSU.
“I know you wanna talk about your baby. That mama and boy relationship, I’m telling you,” Marcus shook his head. Aiysha remembers, “Boy, he was a giraffe, he was a baby giraffe, and he was struggling. Yes, he was.”
She went on to say, “He was not on the top team, but he’s been working these past two years and it’s just coming together, and when I finally saw him in the uniform, I was like, oh my goodness, your work is starting to like really pay off. Like you can see it, and I can see the confidence in him.”
Marcus Jr. is representing USA Basketball, at the same time his big sister Cari is representing USA Volleyball on the U19 Team. Years ago, her dad remembers the moment he knew she was special beyond her athletic ability after a USA Volleyball game.
“She eventually broke down after the last game. They won a gold medal and everything, but she broke down because it was her first time not being like a central part of a team,” Marcus smiled. “In my mind as a dad, I’m like Oh, I got a dog. I got a freaking dog. She wants to be in it.”
Their youngest, Miko, is just 12 years old but already making her mark on the volleyball court. Her moment came after a loss in a big tournament in Kansas City.
“She was crushed. And it’s because she wanted to win,” Aiysha explained. “It was just like, OK, Miko, you do want this, you want volleyball, not because your sister is playing it, but because you want it.”
It comes as no surprise that Marcus is the most animated of the two at games.
“I’m loud, voice be gone,” he laughed. He talks to all the girls on the volleyball teams, giving motivational speeches before big games. As for Aiysha, she gestured, “I’m sitting down on the side.”
When asked how they keep their house normal, Aiysha replied, “That’s a good question. I just, it’s how I was raised. I just kind of keep it old-fashioned, like we’re going to keep the values. The trash has to go out. You’ve got to get it, get it out there. You know, the dishes are dirty. We’ve got to get those dishes clean. Clean the room, you know, just old school values, I guess that’s what it is.”
On whether youth sports have gone too far, Marcus says no.
“Now, their scheduling has gone too far. They do too much. But I think the pressure that parents are under, they’re, they’re starting to put that on the kids,” Marcus said.
Aiysha points out, “We didn’t have all the eyes on us. Like, social media has a lot of eyes on all the kids, like if your kid is not doing this, then they’re not going to make it, which is not true. Everybody just has their different lanes that they have to figure out how they’re going to get there.”
An empty nest is a few short years away. Although the couple has some plans, continuing to watch their kids excel and thrive in sports and life is top of the list.
“I think we’re going to buy ourselves a Winnebago and we’re going to travel and watch the kids,” Marcus nods. “That’s his dream,” Aiysha pauses. “I said I could do a tiny house.”
After all, their house is now big on faith, family, and full-court success.
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