Crowe offers Tigers highest-rated hire since MPJ
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Jeff Borzello Close Jeff Borzello Basketball recruiting expert Jeff Borzello
is a basketball recruiting insider. He has signed up with ESPN in 2014. Paul Biancardi Close Paul Biancardi Basketball Recruiting National Recruiting Director for ESPN.com 18 years of coaching experience at Division I level
- Former Horizon League coach of the year at Wright
- State Jul 18, 2025, 06:00 PM ET Top-five recruit Jason Crowe
- Jr. announced his dedication to Missouri on Friday, becoming the Tigers’highest-ranked recruit in nearly a decade.Crowe never launched a main school list, although Kentucky, USC, Texas and others were all in pursuit of the elite scoring guard.”Because early July, I have actually felt a strong dedication to Missouri,”Crowe told ESPN.”And with today being my birthday, I believed it was the ideal minute to make it main.
“For the majority of the previous few months, Kentucky and USC were thought to be the favorites for Crowe. Crowe’s daddy had fun with Kentucky assistant Jason Hart and the 2 stay buddies, and USC made him a top priority early in the cycle.Editor’s Picks 2 Related But Dennis Gates and the Tigers made a strong push over the past six weeks after using Crowe a scholarship in June.”Coach Gates is a sensational coach and person, and
his personnel are great people,”Crowe
said.”Our first conversation occurred during the U.S.A. tryouts. He was really real. We spoke about family and linked on a meaningful level. Coach Gates is a family-first individual. On the court, he’s high-energy and competitive. “A 6-foot-3 possibility from Inglewood High School (California), Crowe is thought about the No. 1 point player in the 2026 class and is ranked No. 4 general in the ESPN 100. He becomes Missouri’s highest-ranked commitment given that Michael Porter Jr. picked the Tigers in
the class of 2017. Crowe leads the Nike EYBL in scoring, averaging 23.6 points in regular-season play– scoring more than 30 points on 4 separate occasions.Crowe is perhaps the best scorer in the class. A left-handed scoring point guard, he flourishes in transition. He has a well balanced and regulated jumper, whether he’s shooting off the dribble or in catch-and-shoot circumstances. Crowe has an extraordinary ability to blow past protectors and matches it with a quality midrange game and capable shooting from deep. He also converts well from the complimentary toss line and gets there frequently.His passing vision is noticeable off his penetration and his ball-screen reads are strong, although he can get loose and casual with the ball at times.Crowe is the very first commitment in Missouri’s 2026 class, although the Tigers are likewise in pursuit of fellow five-star prospect Toni Bryant. “The University of Missouri is a college town that takes fantastic pride in its sports teams,
“Crowe stated. “Without an NBA group nearby, the focus is on school, basketball and becoming part of a close-knit community. I am thrilled to go there and be an impactful player.”