Five-star prospect Jason Crowe Jr. is regarded as one of the top players in all of high school basketball.
California is often esteemed as one of the top states in the nation when it comes to grassroots talent, producing the likes of Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Damian Lillard and Klay Thompson.
All of these future Hall of Famers have one thing in common aside from their successful NBA careers: they never scored more points in high school than blue-chipper Jason Crowe Jr.
In fact, nobody in the state’s history has, as the Inglewood High School senior is California’s all-time leading scorer.
“It’s crazy to think about,” Crowe said with a laugh when asked about the feat. “I’ve knocked out all of the individual [accolades] I could do. Knocked those out of the way. We had a really good regular season so right now we’re focused on tightening up for the playoffs.”
Crowe’s turning point
Five years ago, Covid-19 restrictions were being lifted, and Crowe took advantage.
A seventh grader at the time, Crowe was a known player in recruiting circles who says he was playing basketball “just for fun.”
After a summer tournament in Arizona that same year, Crowe Jr. says he knew he turned a corner skills-wise and committed himself to the game. A dominant outing at the MADE Hoops event — a grassroots leader in youth basketball and media — gave him added confidence
“I was just good around my area … playing around parks or at school,” Crowe said. “MADE Hoops, 7th grade, that’s when I hit a turning point and knew I could really take this somewhere.”
Since 2021, his awards list includes multiple MaxPreps All-American honors, a Division V state title as a freshman at Lynwood High School and setting the record for most points scored at the Hoophall Classic (48 points).
Crowe’s spring consists of outings at the McDonald’s All-American Game, the Jordan Brand Classic and the Nike Hoops Summit. Despite all his achievements, Crowe is only focused on bringing a state championship back to Inglewood for his teammates, community, and his dad, Jason Sr., the coach for the Sentinels.
“A lot of bumping heads, obviously,” Crowe said when asked about playing for his father. “It’s a great thing, though, having that connection on the court. He was a great basketball player himself and we’re both in love with the game. It’s hard not to talk about basketball off the court when we’re at the house.”
Crowe says his tight-knit family structure is the foundation of his grounded and composed deposition, which is often visible in clutch moments on the court. He says the majority of free time is spent at his grandmother’s house for gatherings as basketball stardom and what comes with that is a newer feat for the Crowe family.
Crowe: ‘I’m really just a well-rounded point guard’
The 6-foot-3 Crowe has averaged at least 35 points per game in his high school career and is averaging 43.8 ppg this season.
The lefty has unlimited range and ability to score at all three levels, making him a nightmare to guard in isolation situations. He’s also extremely comfortable in pick-and-roll scenarios due to his shot-making ability and court vision. Crowe is especially crafty off the dribble, using his handle to finish at the rim or create space for pull-ups off the dribble.
Crowe said he knows he can score with the best of them, but feels like he impacts winning in many ways.
“I contribute in so many other ways than scoring,” Crowe said. “That’s what I hate about highlights. You see the 40s and 50s and it gets misconstrued that I’m just a scorer. I’m really just a well-rounded point guard and a leader.”
Crowe says he has started relationships with Jayson Tatum, James Harden and former NBA player Bradley Beal, reaching out to them for advice in navigating the journey of being an elite prospect. Crowe said he models his game after De’Aaron Fox and Jalen Brunson and hopes to form a connection with those left-handed point guards soon, too.
Inglewood native and 2008 NBA Finals MVP Paul Pierce was a teammate of Jason Crowe Sr. at Inglewood High in the 1990s. Three decades later, Pierce is a mentor of the best prospect from his hometown since himself.
“That’s my uncle,” Crowe said. “He really gives a good perspective on the game. Obviously, he’s a Hall of Famer … as I’ve accomplished more through the years, he’s just been a regular uncle, you know, talking about other things than basketball.”
Columbia calls for Crowe
The early commitment to the Missouri was a decision of foresight, Crowe said. The stressors of the recruiting process were something Crowe was trying to alleviate for his family and himself. He headlines the best class in the basketball program’s history, noting his decision wasn’t about money in the age of NIL.
“I was closest to this staff,” Crowe said. “The first call I had with coach [Dennis] Gates had nothing to do with basketball…just life. He’s a really good father figure and I already had a relationship with Tim Fuller [General Manager] when he was at OTE. If they gave me the same pitch and offered me less, I would have still gone there.”
There’s still quite a bit of work to get done for Crowe. Until then, he says he uses his calm demeanor, stressing the importance of a present mind and humility amidst the highs of being a five-star recruit.
Throughout the inevitable highs and lows, he says he hopes his love for the game remains pure.
“I wouldn’t kill like I kill if I didn’t love it,” he said. “I’ll continue to work…work two times harder, keep a balance and get stronger. I try not to do it for anything but the love.”