4-Star Recruit Makes College Commitment Decision on Monday

Pearson, a 6-foot-11 forward from St. Louis, was a highly regarded four-star prospect. He received strong interest from programs like Purdue, Iowa State, DePaul and Illinois but ultimately chose to join Smart and the Golden Eagles.

Speaking with 247 Sports, Pearson shared insight into his decision and praised Marquette’s coaching staff:

"From when they started recruiting me until now, they've been tremendous in staying in contact," Pearson said. "They came to see me and had me on campus. It wasn't just about building a relationship with (Marquette assistant) CJ Rivers — I also liked how I connected with Shaka Smart. That played a big role in my decision. I like Coach Shaka's background and the players he's worked with in the past who resemble me."

Marquette will be reloading its roster after losing three seniors — Kam Jones, David Joplin and Stevie Mitchell — who were the team's top three scorers.

Since taking over the program in 2021, Smart has led the Golden Eagles to the NCAA Tournament in each of his four seasons. Their deepest run came in 2023-24 when they reached the Sweet 16 before falling to NC State.

With the addition of Pearson, Marquette adds size, athleticism and long-term potential to a team aiming to make a deeper run into March next season.