RECRUITING: Findlay Prep’s Spencer selects Auburn over UNLV, others

Findlay Prep senior forward Horace Spencer made an oral commitment to Auburn on Sunday morning, Pilots coach Andy Johnson confirmed.

Spencer’s commitment is nonbinding, and the first day he can sign a letter of intent is Nov. 12. Auburn’s coaches cannot comment until that time.

The 6-foot-8-inch Spencer had been a top recruiting priority for UNLV, which had three coaches in attendance for Spencer’s final game at the Las Vegas Fab 48 in late July.

Spencer has scholarship offers from several schools, including Cincinnati, Georgetown, Louisville, Maryland, Oklahoma State, South Carolina, South Florida and Southern California. He also made unofficial visits to Seton Hall and Temple, along with Auburn.

Spencer’s commitment to Auburn came hours after new Tigers coach Bruce Pearl’s three-year NCAA show-cause penalty ended. Pearl reportedly spoke to Spencer at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, as soon as he was permitted to contact recruits.

Spencer, who is originally from Warminster, Pa., is a four-star recruit and consensus top 100 player by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com. He averaged 6.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 blocks before he suffered a broken thumb on his birthday on Jan. 31 and missed the rest of the season.