Mizzou Becomes Favorite to Land Top-5 Class of 2026 Recruit
A new report from Joe Tipton of On3 has the Missouri Tigers suddenly at the front of the race for one of the nation's top basketball prospects.
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Five-star shooting guard Jason Crowe Jr. is now projected by multiple insiders to commit to Mizzou.
The 6-foot-3 rising senior, ranked No. 5 nationally in the Class of 2026 by 247Sports, would be Missouri's highest-ranked commitment since Michael Porter Jr in the class of 2017.
The Tigers entered the picture late in the recruiting process, but they're now considered the team to beat for the California native.
Crowe is known for his elite scoring ability, deep shooting range, and confidence as a three-level scorer. He has a smooth stroke, thrives off the dribble, and brings an advanced offensive package that is rarely seen at the high school level.
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For months, the Kentucky Wildcats had been the frontrunner for Crowe. In a recent interview, he referred to Kentucky assistant Jason Hart as "like an uncle" and mentioned he trained him when he was younger.
Despite the connection, Crowe never took an official visit to Lexington, leaving the door open for other programs.
Missouri Tigers head coach Dennis Gates.Matt Bush-Imagn Images
According to Tipton and other recruiting analysts, Missouri has 'quietly gained serious momentum' and currently holds the Crystal Ball prediction on 247Sports.
While Crowe hasn't released an official list of finalists, schools like USC, Texas, Baylor, UCLA, and Arkansas have all remained involved.
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He is set to announce his decision on July 18th, and with less than two weeks to go, Mizzou fans have good reason to be excited.
A commitment from Crowe would not only be historic, but it could signal a new era for Dennis Gates and the future of Tiger basketball.
Related: Mizzou Hoops Lands Commitment of 2027 Top-30 Recruit
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.

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