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SBLive's Freshman All-Americans: Jason Crowe Jr. is Player of the Year in Class of 2026

Lynwood (California) guard tops list of nation's best high school freshmen in 2022-23
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The 2022-23 high school basketball season is officially complete.

Last week SBLive crowned a national champion in the final SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 rankings, handed out postseason awards and revealed our All-American teams.

Now we're taking a class-by-class look at the nation’s best non-seniors from the 2022-23 high school basketball. VJ Edgecombe of Long Island Lutheran (New York) led the junior class of All-Americans and Cameron Boozer of Columbus (Florida) headlined the sophomores.

Only the rookies remain. Early in the season, we examined 20 instant-impact standouts in the class of 2026. Which of them made the cut when it was all said and done? 

Here are the SBLive Freshman All-American first team, second team and player of the year:

Player of the Year

Jason Crowe Jr., Lynwood (California)

Jason Crowe Jr left Lynwood Freshman of the Year

Crowe was recently named the SBLive National Freshman of the Year following a historic season in which he averaged 36 points and 5.4 assists per game. The 6-foot-3 guard smashed the freshman state record with 1,295 points while leading Lynwood to a Division 5 state title.

First Team

Kaden House, Desert Mountain (Arizona)

House, the son of former NBA sharpshooter Eddie House, averaged 25.9 points, nine rebounds. 3.5 assists and 3.6 steals per game. The 6-foot-3 guard scored 40 points in the AIA Open Division quarterfinals to lead the team to the final four.

JaShawn “JJ” Andrews, Little Rock Christian (Arkansas)

JJ Andrews Little Rock Chrisitan

The SBLive Arkansas Newcomer of the Year put up 16.6 points, six rebounds, two assists and 1.1 blocks per game. The 6-foot-5 wing did so while helping Little Rock Christian take home the 4A state title.

Caleb Holt, Buckhorn (Alabama)

After posting 33 points and 14 rebounds in the state semifinals, the 6-foot-5 wing tallied 32 points and 18 rebounds in the AHSAA 6A state championship game to lead Buckhorn to victory.

Tyran Stokes, Prolific Prep (California)

Prolific Prep Tyran Stokes

Stokes impacted the game on both ends of the floor all season for a top five team in the country, finishing with 10.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists per game. The 6-foot-7 forward led national No. 4 Prolific Prep with 1.4 steals per game.

Latrell Allmond, John Marshall (Virginia)

Allmond played a key role in John Marshall finishing the season as an undefeated state champion and top 15 squad in the country. The 6-foot-9 forward held down the paint for the Justice, averaging 9.2 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game in addition to being the loaded team’s fourth-leading scorer (14.2 points per game).

Second Team

Alijah Arenas, Chatsworth (California)

The son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas posted 30.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-4 guard went for 56 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in a January win over Canoga Park (Calif.).

Jayden Moore, Hopkins (Minnesota)

Buffalo vs Hopkins Feb24-23 Earl Ebensteiner17

Moore was named to the SBLive Minnesota All-State second team after averaging 20.8 points and 7.8 assists per game. The 5-foot-10 guard nearly recorded a quadruple-double in one game, finishing with 14 points, 12 assists, 11 rebounds and seven steals.

Jalen Montonati, Owasso (Oklahoma)

Jalen Montonati Owasso

Entering the state tournament, Montonati had averaged 19 points and seven rebounds per game. The 6-foot-7 forward dropped 27 points to lead Owasso past Deer Creek in the Class 6A quarterfinals.

Chris Washington, The Villages (Florida)

Villages forward Christopher Washington Jr. (33) celebrates after defeating North Marion.

Villages forward Christopher Washington Jr. (33) celebrates after defeating North Marion.

The 6-foot-6 wing helped fuel The Villages’ run to the FHSAA Class 4A state championship game. Right behind senior Sam Walters, a four-star Alabama signee, Washington was the team’s second leading scorer and rebounder with 10.7 points and 5.3 boards per game. 

TJ Crumble, Lutheran East (Ohio)

A 17-point performance in his high school debut was a sign of things to come for Crumble. The 6-foot-8 forward made the SBLive Ohio All-State Tournament team after leading Lutheran East with 23 points and eight rebounds in the semifinals and then adding 12 points for the Falcons in their state championship win.

Lead photo by Dennis Lee