Missouri basketball fans, get ready to welcome one of the most electrifying young talents in the nation. Jason Crowe Jr., a standout from California, has just been named one of three finalists for the prestigious 2025-26 Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year award.
Crowe, who dominated the high school scene in California, is set to join the Missouri Tigers this summer. As a true freshman in the 2026-27 season, he’s already making waves as one of Mizzou’s highest-ranked recruits ever.
Joining Crowe in the race for national player of the year honors are Jordan Smith Jr. from Virginia, committed to Arkansas, and Cameron Williams from Arizona, who’s headed to Duke.
Crowe has etched his name in the record books as California’s all-time leading high school scorer with a jaw-dropping 4,718 points. Averaging an impressive 43.3 points per game, he’s not just a scorer but a complete player, contributing 5.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.5 steals per game this past season.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 185 pounds, Crowe committed to Dennis Gates’ Tigers last July. As a five-star prospect, he’s ranked No. 7 nationally by 247Sports’ composite rankings. His accolades include McDonald’s All-American honors and being a finalist for the Naismith Boys Basketball Player of the Year Award, an honor that went to Smith.
Missouri’s 2026 recruiting class is currently ranked No. 11 in the nation, with Crowe leading the charge alongside five-star power forward Toni Bryant and four-star wing Aidan Chronister.
Crowe honed his skills at Inglewood High under the guidance of his father, Jason Crowe Sr., leading his team to the California Southern Section Division 1A Tournament semifinals.
As we look ahead, the Tigers are gearing up for their NCAA Tournament clash against Miami on Friday night in St. Louis.
The game tips off at 9:10 p.m. CDT on truTV.
With talents like Crowe on the horizon, the future is looking bright for Missouri basketball.