Stanford 4-star PG signee Elijah Crawford receives NLI release from Cardinal

Elijah Crawford will not be headed to Stanford after all. The 6-foot-2 point guard out of Brewster Academy (NH) has requested to be released from his National Letter of Intent (NLI) to Stanford and will reopen his recruitment.

“After careful consideration and talking with my family and inner circle, I have decided to re-open my recruitment,” Crawford said in a statement to On3. “I would like to thank Stanford University and the coaching staff for the opportunity. However, at this point my family and I believe it is in my best interest to view all of my options while still considering Stanford.”

The four-star senior originally from Augusta, Georgia committed to the Cardinal in October and signed his NLI during the early period in November. He ultimately chose Stanford over a final group of Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State, South Carolina, and UCF.

According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Elijah Crawford is the No. 96 overall prospect in the 2024 cycle. He’s also the No. 13 point guard prospect. The On3 Industry Ranking is a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Crawford Scouting Report

Below is an in-depth Scouting Report on Elijah Crawford from On3’s Jamie Shaw:

Elijah Crawford is a sturdily built lead guard. A 6-foot-2 and 185-pound, he plays with good balance and is able to absorb contact in the paint. Crawford is confident on the ball, and he is at his best in the mid-range. He is capable of getting into dangerous areas of the floor and making plays. Crawford is a threat to rise up and score, while also distributing to teammates. 

In his time in high school, he has gotten shot happy at times. Stopping the ball and the flow of the offense. You like the confidence he shows in scoring the ball, as well as the touch. Crawford will need to stay on top of his conditioning. He has upside as an on-ball defender, as long as he stays locked in on that end of the floor. 

When he finds his rhythm and is not overthinking things, he plays with a nice flow. Able to toggle between scorer and distributor. That is something that he will continue to hone. Crawford jumped from private school ball to the NIBC last season, the game was played faster. This will be his second year on the NIBC, so expect the continued growth and his comfort making plays. Crawford has a nice upside with natural competitive tools.