If you haven’t seen the left-handed jumper of Jason Crowe Jr. in person, you’re basically missing out on a glitch in the scoring matrix. We aren't just talking about a "good" high school player. We’re talking about a kid who turned the California state record books into his personal diary.
On a Tuesday night in early December 2025, the vibe at the old Morningside gym was electric, kinda like those old-school mixtapes from the early 2000s. Crowe Jr., often called "J2," stepped onto the floor needing 29 points to become the all-time leading scorer in California high school history. He didn't just get there. He blew past it with a 51-point masterpiece against Beverly Hills.
That night, he officially moved past Tounde Yessoufou’s record of 3,659 career points. The crazy part? It took J2 only 100 games to do what others needed 120 or 130 games to achieve. He’s a bucket. Plain and simple.
The Mizzou Shockwave
For a long time, everyone figured Jason Crowe Jr. was headed to a blue blood. Kentucky was the heavy favorite for what felt like forever. But then, Dennis Gates and the Missouri Tigers swooped in. Honestly, it caught a lot of people off guard when he committed on July 18, 2025—his 17th birthday.
Why Missouri? It wasn't just about the NIL or the flashy facilities. It was personal.
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- Relationship-first recruiting: Gates didn't just recruit Jason; he recruited the family.
- The Gates Factor: The Tigers' staff showed a level of synergy that J2’s father, Jason Crowe Sr., said felt "genuine."
- A New Era: By signing Crowe Jr., Mizzou locked in the No. 1 recruiting class in the country for 2026, according to ESPN.
He’s the highest-ranked recruit for the Tigers since Michael Porter Jr. back in 2017. That's heavy pressure, but if you've watched J2 play, you know he doesn't really do "pressure." He just does points.
Scouting the "Lefty Wizard"
Scouts call him a combo guard, but he plays with the poise of a veteran floor general. At 6'3" and about 170 pounds, he isn't the biggest guy on the court, but he might be the craftiest. He uses a headband—a nod to family friend and NBA legend Paul Pierce—and a bag of tricks that is deep. Like, really deep.
He’s got that stop-on-a-dime pull-up. He’s got the step-back three that looks effortless. Most importantly, his "floater" game is elite. During the 2025 Nike EYBL circuit, he led the entire league in scoring, averaging 23.6 points per game against the best players in the country.
What the Experts Say
Jamie Shaw from On3 describes him as a "natural scorer" with incredible footwork. 247Sports has him as a consensus five-star, ranking him as high as No. 3 nationally. But he isn't just a shooter. His assist numbers have climbed every year. As a junior at Inglewood, he wasn't just dropping 35 a night; he was also dishing out 6.1 assists. He’s learning to use the gravity he creates to get his teammates open looks.
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Homegrown in Inglewood
There’s something special about a kid staying home. After spending his first two seasons at Lynwood High—where he won a state title as a 14-year-old freshman—he followed his father back to Inglewood High.
Crowe Sr. is an alum. He played with Paul Pierce. Coming back to coach at his alma mater with his son leading the team? You couldn't write a better script.
"I tell people love brought us home," Crowe Sr. said when they made the move.
The community has embraced them. Every home game feels like a family reunion. You’ll see former pros in the stands, local kids wearing "J2" shirts, and a level of intensity that usually only exists in the playoffs.
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Tracking the 4,000 Point Milestone
As of early 2026, Jason is on pace to do the unthinkable: hit 4,000 career points. No one in California has ever done it. To put that in perspective, he’s currently averaging over 40 points per game in his senior season.
He had 43 points in his season opener. Then 46 a few games later. It’s not just "volume" shooting either; he’s efficient. He knows how to get to the free-throw line (he went 17-of-18 in his record-breaking 51-point game).
If Inglewood makes a deep run in the CIF playoffs, that 4,000-point mark is basically a lock.
Key Insights for the Future
If you’re a Mizzou fan or just a fan of Jason Crowe Jr. basketball, here is what you need to keep an eye on over the next few months:
- The Playoff Push: Watch how Inglewood handles the double and triple teams J2 will see in the postseason. His ability to facilitate will determine if they get another state ring.
- Hoop Summit Performance: Jason was recently named to the 2026 USA Men’s Nike Hoop Summit Team. Seeing him compete against international pros is the ultimate litmus test before he hits college.
- Physical Development: He’s thin. Adding 10-15 pounds of muscle before he hits the SEC will be the difference between him being a "scorer" and a "dominant force."
The record is already his. The legacy is being built in real-time. Whether he's breaking ankles at the Morningside gym or getting ready for the SEC, Jason Crowe Jr. is the most exciting thing to happen to California high school hoops in a long, long time.
Keep an eye on the box scores for Inglewood High. At the current pace, he’ll likely cross the 4,000-point threshold by mid-February. Once he finishes his senior year, the focus shifts entirely to Columbia, Missouri, where he’ll look to turn the Tigers into a permanent fixture in the Top 25.