On Tuesday, Rivals reported Florida State men’s hoops earned the pledge of C Marcis Ponder, a 2026 4-star prospect from Springfield, VA. Ponder becomes the second commitment in head coach Luke Loucks’ 2026 recruiting class, along with Jasen Lopez, who has stated his intention to play football and basketball.
NEWS: 4⭐️ Marcis Ponder, a 7-foot center in the 2026 class, has committed to Florida State, he tells @Rivals. Ponder is a top-75 overall recruit. Received offers from Miami, Illinois, Providence,
ADand others. https://t.co/6iaL9nwEPQ pic.twitter.com/6WkoeDJ7M2
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) July 29, 2025
247 Sports Composite ranks Ponder as the 71st best player in the country and the #6 center in the 2026 class. 247 and Rivals have different measurables for Ponder’s height and weight, but he stands around 6’11-7’0’’ while On3 lists him at 288 pounds.
Ponder’s commitment is the highest rated pickup for Loucks in the high school ranks during his early tenure and the first-year head man needed to beat out other top schools to land the massive center. Considering the onus on a big man that can be a facilitator on the offensive side in Loucks’ offense, landing an early pledge from a top center in the country checks off a vital box.
More from tomahawknation.com:
