The three finalists for the 2025-26 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award have been announced.
Jason Crowe Jr., Jordan Smith Jr. and Cameron Williams were named as this year’s finalists with each putting up eye-popping numbers throughout their senior seasons.
Before a winner is announced, here’s a look at the three standouts who are each ranked as top-five recruits in the 2026 class.
Jason Crowe Jr.
High School: Inglewood (CA)
Position: Combo Guard
College Commitment: Missouri
California’s all-time leading scorer with 4,647 points, Crowe averaged an absurd 43.3 points during his senior season. The 6-foot-3, 170-pounder is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 5 player in the 2026 class and signed with the Tigers last November. Over his four years of high school ball, Crowe never averaged fewer than 35 points per game, finishing with 38.1 points per game. Last season, he scored 45 or more points 19 times and 50 or more points six times.
Jordan Smith Jr.
High School: Paul VI Catholic (Fairfax, VA)
Position: Combo Guard
College Commitment: Arkansas
Smith is the top player on the top team in the country, a do-it-all scorer is set to follow in the footsteps of SEC Player of the Year Darius Acuff at Arkansas. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder is ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2026 class according to 247Sports. He committed to Arkansas on February 13. This season, he racked up plenty of accolades, including being named a Naismith Award semifinalist.
Cameron Williams
High School: St. Mary’s (Phoenix, AZ)
Position: Power Forward
College Commitment: Duke
In Duke’s long line of standout big men, Williams is the next man up. A scoring force underneath at 6-foot-11 and 200 pounds, Williams is actually at his best cleaning up the boards. This season, he averaged 12.1 rebounds per game. According to 247Sports, Williams ranks as the top power forward in the country and the No. 3 overall player.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: See the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year finalists
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