5-star Jason Crowe Jr. sees Kentucky's Jason Hart as 'family,' planning winter decision

“Everybody knows Jason Hart is one of my best friends, so Kentucky is right there. They’ve been there.”

Jason Crowe Sr. knows there is no reason to minimize his relationship with the Kentucky assistant — or the Wildcats’ standing with his son, the nation’s No. 6 overall prospect and No. 3 shooting guard in 2026. Jason Crowe Jr. is a consensus five-star who is currently leading the Nike EYBL in scoring at 24.2 points per contest, recruited by — well, everybody. UK is thought to be one of the top contenders to land the 6-3 guard out of California, though, if not the top contenders.

That relationship is a big reason why, Crowe Sr. and Hart going back three decades as former Inglewood High School teammates and lifelong friends.

The five-star’s father won’t put his own relationships and situation before his son’s and he will always push to do what’s in his best interest, but he’d be lying if he said familiarity didn’t help.

“I’m always going to do what’s best for my son, just like he’s gonna do what’s best for him. He understands that,” Crowe Sr. told KSR. “But, obviously, having somebody like him in place as a mentor to my son means a lot.”

What does Crowe Jr. believe is in his own best interest? He singled out Baylor, Kentucky, USC, UCLA, Arkansas, Texas and Arizona as ‘schools in on me the most,’ but yes, he had plenty to say about Mark Pope’s Wildcats.

“It’s a great program. Definitely wouldn’t mind going there,” he told KSR+. “They have a great coach in Coach Pope. They have good guards coming in. They have a good, well-rounded facility, too. … Their message has been to focus on what I’m doing right now. They’re going to recruit me, but they still want me to focus on what I’m doing right now. I think that’s good.”

How about that relationship with Hart? It’s about what you’d expect, a lifelong bond closer to family than coach or even friend.

“Honestly, that’s like my uncle. He used to train me when I was younger at Inglewood High School,” Crowe Jr. said. “That’s just family right there, that’s really like my uncle right there. … When you have people that you know there and you know how they move, they’re in there just to help you. Having him there, it definitely helps me look at Kentucky with a different eye.”

As for Pope specifically, he’ll be the first to tell you he was not expecting him to get off to the historic start he did in year one in Lexington.

“I feel like he surprised me,” Crowe Jr. continued. “I didn’t think he’d have the season that he had, but they went very far. I wish all the best for them next season too.”

It’s not a done deal to the Wildcats, obviously, with plenty other schools involved and prioritizing him the way they all do with top-10 recruits. He’s having a great time hearing everyone out, currently in a stage of his recruitment you dream of as a kid in basketball.

“The recruiting process has been really fun for me,” he said “It’s just a dream come true, everybody wants to have coaches calling them on a daily basis and checking in on them. But I can only go to one school, so I’m just trying to break it down right now.”

What’s next in that ‘dream’ recruitment of his? He’s planning one visit in June, but ‘I don’t know where yet.’ Then he’ll get others on the schedule, his dad telling KSR they plan to take five officials.

Will Kentucky get one of those five? That’s not a question.

“Most likely going to meet with Big Blue Nation, see what that’s all about,” Crowe Sr. said with a grin.

They’ll knock out those visits and then turn their attention toward a commitment with a decision expected this winter.

“I’m probably going to commit before December — either December or January,” Crowe Jr. told KSR.

Not a bad spot to be in if you’re Mark Pope, Jason Hart and the Kentucky Wildcats.