Arizona State’s 2027 recruiting class got a major boost this week with the official signing of Florida forward Carson Crawford, a four-star prospect who had already announced his commitment in September.
Crawford, who plays at Fleming Island High School in Orange Park, Florida, is one of the Sun Devils’ biggest early wins in the cycle. According to 24/7 Sports, he’s rated a four-star, 91-point recruit and checks in as the 70th-best player in the country for 2027. He’s also listed as a top-20 small forward and a top-20 player in Florida.
ESPN is high on him, too, giving Crawford an 86 rating and placing him 53rd on its “Next 100” list. After his September commitment, he told ESPN why Arizona State stood out.
“I knew of Coach Bennett because of his success at Saint Mary’s. He is excellent at player development.
All of his staff at ASU have either played for him or coached with him at Saint Mary’s. I really like that.”
He also pointed to the relationship-building piece of the pitch.
“Coach Bennett really knows the game,” he said. “He builds strong relationships with his players both on and off the court.
I know I can call him about anything. He is a straightforward person, and I understand that nothing is guaranteed.
He expects me to play a big role next season.”
Crawford added, “Their plan for me is to develop my game on the offensive end, while defending and rebounding, to earn significant minutes, and help them put ASU back on the map at a high level.”
Arizona State reportedly held off a long list of suitors for the forward, including Providence, Syracuse, Ole Miss, Florida State, Cincinnati, Georgia, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech and several smaller Florida schools. He took his visit to Tempe in late August and committed shortly after. Even after that, he made an official visit to Providence in October, but his decision stayed the same.
Syracuse was in the mix as well, with the Orange tracking him closely during the summer on the AAU circuit. Crawford even responded to some Syracuse-based posts online.
His signing comes during a busy fall for Arizona State’s 2027 class. Mesa standout Jakyi Miles also signed this week after announcing his commitment in October, giving the Sun Devils another local four-star piece.
Add in Illinois forward Howard Williams, and ASU’s current three-man group has the look of a top-10 class nationally, according to On3. All three players are top-10 prospects in their respective states, and the Sun Devils are currently sitting as the top class in the Big 12.
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