The 2026 Norm Stewart Classic gave Mizzou fans their first in-person look at the future.
Jason Crowe Jr., Toni Bryant and Aiden Chronister — MU’s three signees in the Class of 2026 — each took the court at Mizzou Arena on Saturday night. Bryant and Chronister played each other in the game before Crowe’s Inglewood Sentinels battled Principia, one of the top high school basketball programs in the St. Louis area.
The main event was Crowe Jr., a five-star recruit who’s one of the best bucket-getters in high
school hoops. It didn’t take long to understand why he’s close to breaking the California high school career scoring record, as he finished with 41 points in an 85-69 loss to the Panthers.
Inglewood’s offense revolved around Crowe Jr., who took 34 shots from the field. A lot of possessions featured Crowe Jr. hunting (and taking) his own shot. Principia sent multiple defenders at him once he entered the paint, and while he passed the ball on plenty of possessions after getting double-teamed, he was also undeterred at times and still attempted a shot. On the other end, Inglewood’s traps in the backcourt and on the perimeter would often get broken, leading to easy buckets all over the floor.
But Crowe Jr’s highlights were intoxicating. Around the midway point of the second quarter, Crowe Jr. pulled off a behind-the-back dribble into a hesitation dribble, shaking his defender off the 3-point line on the right wing. He then proceeded to drill a side-step 3-pointer. He also converted a handful of heavily contested turnaround jumpers and layups, emulating wildly tough shot-makers like JR Smith and Dion Waiters.
The most impactful all-around performance out of the three signees, however, came from Chronister, who finished with a game-high 25 points in The New School’s 52-48 win over Zephyrhills Christian Academy. Chronister won the game’s MVP.
He airballed his first 3-point attempt of the game, but he knocked down five of his next 11 attempts from beyond the arc. His length was on display both offensively and defensively. On offense, Chronister proved able to shoot over everyone. On defense, Chronister blocked a couple of shots — one was a layup, and the other was a 3-point attempt. Not too long after he buried a corner 3-pointer to put The New School ahead by six late in the fourth quarter, he deflected and stole a pick-and-roll pass to the roller on the right block that looked like it was going over Chronister’s head. He also converted a pair of free throws to effectively seal a win with under 10 seconds left in regulation.
Bryant, who finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds, mostly hung out in the dunker’s spot on both ends. He flashed elite verticality on a pair of alley-oop finishes, and he also had a game-high three blocks. Bryant also contested a Chronister jumper from the right elbow late in the third quarter.
When Bryant got the ball in the post, he’d often spin to the baseline. Bryant also flashed solid passing instincts, as there were numerous occasions of him hitting open teammates on the perimeter after attracting defenders down low.
Here’s some of what each player had to say after their respective games:
Jason Crowe Jr.
On the weekend in Columbia: “The weekend’s been fun. We didn’t win the game, but we still had a fun weekend overall.”
On his relationship with Aiden Chronister and Toni Bryant: “After I found out that they committed, the relationship has grown. I definitely try to talk to them when I get a chance.”
On what he wants to improve between now and when he gets to Mizzou: “A little bit of everything. College is different than high school, so just trying to get better and being more focused and locked in when I come to Missouri so I can be one year and out.”
On why the coaching staff will maximize his talent at Mizzou: “The first conversation I had with them, it became more than basketball when I came for my visit. It was great for me, showing that they care about the person and not just the player.”
On how much his dad’s relationship with Dennis Gates helped in the recruitment process: “It played a big role. They clicked very well. My did kind of helped me in recruiting. Coach Gates is also just a family-based guy. Like I said, my first conversation with him was nothing about basketball.”
On how he’ll adjust to the college level: “I feel like it’ll be easier. With the team I have this year, a lot more is on my plate. But I feel like coming to Missouri, I’m gonna have some returners … The focus is not gonna be fully on me.”
Aiden Chronister
On playing at Mizzou Arena: “It’s such a family-oriented environment, I can’t wait to do that next year and the years forward.”
On what he wanted to showcase at the Norm Stewart Classic: “All-around game, because at Mizzou, I’m gonna be a shooter like Caleb Grill and Jacob Crews, but I can do a lot more.”
On the mindset going into the fourth quarter: “They started face-guarding. If they’re going to me heavily, that means all of my teammates are going to be open. But I knew when it started getting close, I had to make shots for my team.”
On how he evaluated his performance: “I think I played really good. I definitely had some turnovers and missed boxouts that we can always learn from. But there’s film to be watched, and there’s definitely area to improve.”
On his relationship with the coaching staff: “They FaceTime me every week. Coach (Kyle) Smithpeters and Coach Gates called me on signing day … It’s just a family. They always keep in touch and make sure me, my family and my brother are good.”
Toni Bryant
On how he evaluated his performance: “I feel like I could’ve played harder in the first half, definitely. But overall, I feel like I was a good teammate, encouraging other guys.”
On why he signed with Mizzou: “What made me want to sign here is Coach Gates, the relationship we’ve had since ninth grade, when not too many colleges were on me. He was one of the first people to show love and was one of the most consistent.”
On Gates’s recruiting style: “Coach Gates does make the players his family, makes my family his family. When I went on a visit, I feel like he was the only coach that did that.”
