The last name is a very familiar one for basketball fans, but the first name is one we're just starting to get to know.
JJ Crawford, a member of the Class of 2029 and the son of former NBA star Jamal Crawford, has emerged as the top-ranked player in his graduating class. Standing 6-foot-4, Crawford comes off a high school season in which he won MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year honors and earned a spot on the USA Basketball Men's U17 National Team.
It's safe to say that Crawford has already made a name for himself.
Now a sophomore in high school, Crawford is already racking up official offers from some of the top programs in the country. He now has 25 offers, with the latest from a Blue Blood that has been keeping tabs on him for a few months.
Michael Malone and UNC extend an offer to five-star JJ Crawford
As he announced on Instagram, Crawford let the world know that Michael Malone and the Tar Heels are officially in the sweepstakes. They join 24 other programs (with likely more to come) that hope to land his commitment ultimately.
NBA Draft Room had this to say about Crawford's game, one that emulates the style that made his father so successful during his pro career:
Jamal’s son is built in the same mold as a high-scoring guard who can dance with the ball, get to his spots and is tough to stop one on one. Has good quickness, burst and change of pace. Can drive with either hand and has really good handles.
A high level shooter with deep range.
Has good size and will likely add another inch or two before he’s done growing.
It's important to note that Crawford has been rumored to be considering reclassing, a move that would add him to the 2028 class. Regardless of which class he ultimately chooses to be a part of, Crawford will be one of (if not the) highest-ranked players, as his status as one of the top high school players in the country isn't dependent on what graduating class he's in.
Malone has made it clear that UNC won't shy away from recruiting the top-ranked players on the high school recruiting trail. He's already lived up to his word in the 2027 class, bringing a handful of five-star talents to Chapel Hill for official visits, and now he's building early relationships with players from the 2028 and 2029 classes.
The list of suitors for Crawford will be a very long one, but expect UNC to make a strong push to be right up there with the top contenders in his recruitment.
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