Washington’s recruiting board keeps getting more interesting, and now it includes the top player in the Class of 2029.
Rivals has named J.J. Crawford, the son of Seattle native Jamal Crawford, as the No. 1 prospect in the country for 2029. That puts the young guard squarely in Washington’s orbit, especially with his family connection to the city.
Crawford attends Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, the same school his father graduated from. Jamal Crawford went on to play college basketball elsewhere before a 21-year NBA career that included three Sixth Man of the Year awards. Washington never landed the elder Crawford, but the Huskies are trying to make a different result happen with J.J.
The 2029 buzz comes as Danny Sprinkle continues pushing hard to rebuild Washington’s recruiting presence. The Huskies only brought in one commitment from the Class of 2026, three-star Lattimore Ford, and filled the rest of their nine open roster spots this offseason with transfer additions and international recruits.
That quieter 2026 class stood out against Sprinkle’s usual recruiting track record, and Washington appears determined to avoid that kind of lull again. The Huskies have already made themselves a serious factor with several elite Class of 2027 targets.
They’re one of the final eight teams under consideration for five-star small forward Malachi Jordan and four-star point guard J’Lon Lyons, and they remain among the top schools in the mix for five-star power forward Ahmed Nur.
Washington has also stayed in contact with five-star point guard Jalen Davis, a Bremerton, Wash. native who has taken an official visit to campus last September and made several unofficial visits as well.
For now, the focus is still on the 2027 class and the next wave of recruiting battles. But with J.J. Crawford already ranked at the top of 2029, the Huskies have another name to monitor in their own backyard.
In Other News...
Ja'Lynn Polk's NFL Turn Is A Tough Reminder For Washington Fans
Ja'Lynn Polks pro path moved quickly from promise to frustration, a stark turn for a receiver Washington fans remember from his Huskies days. Drafted in the second round by the New England Patriots in 2024, Polk spent one season in the NFL before shoulder surgery interrupted his first year, and he later landed in New Orleans after being traded to the Saints.
For Washington supporters, the hardest part is how abruptly the story shifted from draft-night optimism to repeated injury setbacks. Polks shoulder issues never really let him get traction at the next level, and after another procedure following a re-injury, he was placed on the reserve/retired list, leaving his future in football suddenly uncertain. [Read more 🡒]
Danny Sprinkle Has A Chance To Change Washingtons Next Recruiting Class
Washingtons basketball staff is already trying to get ahead of the Class of 2027, and the Huskies have put themselves in the mix for one of the groups more coveted names in five-star forward Ahmed Nur. Danny Sprinkle and his staff are staying active with top prospects, and Nurs list has plenty of major programs in it, with Washington drawing attention alongside Ole Miss and Syracuse as the early recruiting race takes shape.
The next meaningful step in that pursuit is coming soon, with a visit to Montlake set for Sept. 6. Rivals recruiting outlook still has Washington in the conversation, which is what makes this one worth tracking for Huskies fans, even if the current lean elsewhere suggests there is still plenty of ground to cover before any decision comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]