Jason Crowe Jr. Finishes Off Men’s Basketball Top-Ranked Class
11/13/2025 3:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The nation's premier scorer in the Class of 2026 is rounding out the nation's premier signing class as Jason Crowe Jr. (Inglewood, Calif.) officially signed with the Mizzou men's basketball team on Thursday, giving the Tigers the No. 1 class in the country by ESPN.
A consensus five-star recruit, Crowe ranks as high as the nation's No. 3 prospect by 247 Sports, while also pacing fifth by ESPN. He is the Tigers' highest-ranked recruit since NBA Lottery Pick and Champion Michael Porter Jr. was second in the Class of 2017.
"We couldn't be more excited to officially welcome Jason Crowe Jr. to Mizzou as we have developed a great relationship with him and his entire family during the recruitment process," said Whitten Family Head Coach Dennis Gates. "He's a special player and already prepares every day like a pro. His work ethic is unmatched, his discipline is unmatched and his performance on the court is unmatched. J2 has tremendous support at home as his entire family embodies our core values. You don't become the nation's top scorer and be on pace to shatter the California scoring record by talent alone, though, and it's his approach to the game and preparation that separates him from others.
"On the court, J2 is as smooth as a player as there is. He is extremely crafty with a high basketball IQ that allows him to score in any situation. There aren't many players at any level that are as skilled of a scorer as he is and we can't wait to welcome him to our Mizzou family next season."
Crowe led all scorers on the Nike EYBL circuit this past summer – averaging 23.6 points per game in 11 contests. The 6-foot-3 guard also added 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.1 steals, while leading the Oakland Soldiers to an 8-3 record. Crowe was at his best at the Peach Jam when he tallied 26.5 points per game at the nation's top youth tournament.
A native of Inglewood, California, Crowe is on pace to not only eclipse the California state scoring record but set the standard by a wide margin. He enters his senior campaign ranked sixth in the state's record book with 3,331 career points and is just 328 points shy of the mark. As a junior, Crowe totaled 952 points in 27 games – an average of 35.3 per contest – while also adding 6.1 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game.
Crowe has also participated in numerous USA Basketball camps throughout his career – training with the U16 National Team in 2023, U17 Team in 2024 and U19 Team in 2025.
"We are so excited for "J2" to officially become a part of the MIZ family," said Jason's father and Inglewood High School Head Coach Jason Crowe Sr. "Coach Gates has assembled an amazing staff of outstanding teachers of the game, who operate with great synergy. My wife and I could feel the genuine care they have for the players and the school as a whole. The fans will see a young man who prepares diligently and loves to compete every night he wears that Black & Gold. We are certainly blessed to be invited into the Missouri family."
Crowe is the third premier prospect to sign with the Tigers during November's early signing period, joining Toni Bryant and Aidan Chronister in the Class of 2026. The trio – who rank as the nation's No. 1 class by ESPN – join a Mizzou program that has won 20-plus games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2-of-3 seasons under Gates' leadership.
PURCHASE YOUR 2025-26 TICKETS
Off to a 4-0 start during the 2025-26 season and coming off the largest win in school history over a Big Ten school, the Tigers return to the court on Monday. Mizzou hosts Prairie View A&M with a 7 p.m. tipoff on SEC Network +. Tickets for the remaining 15 home games are on sale now by clicking HERE.
