The Wildcats have fallen off the radar.
Jason Crowe Jr., one of the top five-star guards in the 2026 class, appears to be trending away from Kentucky as his July 18 commitment date approaches.
Joe Tipton of On3 and Rivals joined “Here Comes the Boom” this week with Jacob Polacheck of KSR and shared that the Missouri Tigers are now viewed as the frontrunner for Crowe. Tipton expressed surprise at how quickly the recruitment shifted, noting that Kentucky is no longer considered a serious contender.
“I was actually quite surprised when I dug a little bit and was able to break the whole thing open,” Tipton said. “Now, the frontrunner is actually Mizzou. Kentucky is not even really in the picture. It’s Mizzou. They’re kind of the leader in the clubhouse. USC and Texas are the other schools to watch.”
Crowe’s recruitment originally featured strong buzz around Kentucky, especially with his close connection to assistant coach Jason Hart. That relationship led many to believe Kentucky was the likely destination. However, Tipton now says the Wildcats have fallen off the radar, and Missouri has surged ahead as the school to beat.
With Crowe’s decision about a week way, all eyes will be on whether Missouri can close the deal, or if another last-minute twist changes the course of his recruitment yet again.
For Kentucky fans, it’s a surprising and disappointing shift, as Crowe had long been viewed as a potential centerpiece for Mark Pope’s 2026 class.
To hear more of what Tipton had to say about other recruits Kentucky is pursuing, watch below: