Amidst the recent portal news hitting the Missouri basketball team, two future Tigers hit center stage at the 2026 McDonald’s All American Boys Game.
Suiting up for the East was Toni Bryant, while future teammate Jason Crowe Jr. donned the West jersey. In Team West’s 102-86 win, Crowe propelled his team to victory while also nabbing co-MVP alongside Arizona recruit Caleb Holt.
It was a fast-paced bout right out the gate with Bryant knocking down the first points of the game from beyond the arc. Standing
at 6-foot-10 the big man made his presence known with two three-pointers and a total of 14 points. By the end of the game, Bryant also had five rebounds and two blocks after around 23 minutes of action.
Per a previous RockM recruiting post, Bryant has been described as, “an elite athlete with top-tier physical tools and defensive versatility, but his game remains unrefined. Limited appearances and inconsistent production raise questions about his short-term impact, especially in half-court offense. He excels in transition and fits Missouri’s up-tempo style under Dennis Gates, but will need time, development, and the right supporting cast to reach his full potential.”
In the second half, the forward harnessed those abilities to try to bring the East back into the game but they ultimately weren’t able to keep up with the talent of the West.
Also receiving a boatload of praise was Crowe Jr. After winning the Boys Three-Point Challenge the night before, the performance didn’t slow down in the all-star game.
While I may have been excited to watch such a talent from my couch, the commentators seemed to share the same amount of praise. Phrases like “makes scoring look easy”, “he’s got such a soft touch and he’s always changing his pace” and ultimately the “best one-on-one player in the class” came through my speakers regarding Crowe’s style of play.
He worked the paint, slammed home the dunks and was creating exceptional looks on offense that led the West team to run up the score. Plus, it was noted that the point guard was playing at around 75 percent after suffering an ankle injury in Saturday’s practice. Still, he recorded 16 points, five assists and two rebounds.
Crowe followed up his previous RockM assessment of only needing “a bare-bones set to manifest an opportunity, usually relying on five-out alignments with a high ball screen. He’s slippery when playing off the bounce, particularly when attacking with his left hand. Crowe has mastered deceleration and quick pickups, and he displays exceptional balance and touch in the mid-range. At the rim, he displays creativity with finishes and mixes up release points.”
His ability to portray pure scoring instincts was a sight to watch and something Mizzou fans should be excited to hear.
Not only have fans been receptive to the two incoming stars, but both players spoke to the media about the offensive change they want to bring to Mizzou Arena.
“I’m looking forward to is just trying to flip the program around,” said Bryant. “Try to make a little bit deeper run in March Madness. And just the college atmosphere.”
“Like TB said, we’re just trying to change the narrative over there, trying to make it into a more-winning program,” said Crowe. “I feel like we could do that with the firepower we have in myself and Toni. I feel like we’ll be a great one-two punch.”
