How Jacob Crews Found Comfort in Mizzou Through a Year of Change

Jacob Crews balanced the birth of his son and adjusting to a new system in his first year with the Missouri Tigers. A disappointing end didn't make his season any less memorable.

Mar 20, 2025; Wichita, KS, USA; Missouri Tigers forward Jacob Crews (35) talks to head coach Dennis Gates in the second half of a first round men’s NCAA Tournament game against the Drake Bulldogs at Intrust Bank Arena. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

WICHITA, Kan. — Sitting in the back left corner of an uncharacteristically dejected Missouri Tigers' locker room, Jacob Crews aimlessly gazed at Anthony Robinson II.

You could hear a pin drop. Robinson was as dejected as the teammate staring him down across the room; blank expressions and slumped postures symbolized the Tigers' depressive state. A season's worth of work had come to an end far sooner than they'd hoped.

Missouri had come a long way from its 0-18 campaign in the Southeastern Conference a year prior, but a first-round upset at the hands of the No. 11 Drake Bulldogs still felt like a disappointment. Lost in his head, all Crews could do was reflect.

"I went from sleeping on the couch," he told Missouri On SI, "(to becoming) a father."

Feb. 19, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Caleb Grill, J.V. Brown and Jacob Crews (left to right) warm-up ahead of the Missouri Tigers matchup with the Alabama Crimson Tide at Mizzou Arena. | Amber Winkler/Missouri On SI

Crews, a Hillard, Fla. native, returned to his hometown with his wife, Karmen, after one season with the UT Martin Skyhawks a year ago. Shortly after, he entered the transfer portal averaging 19.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. That's when Dennis Gates called.

Pitching his on-the-rise SEC squad to the sharpshooter took only eight days.

"I made it about him and his wife," Gates explained, "and more so his wife than him. I guess I'm the only coach that talked about a newborn baby coming soon."

The care Gates showed for the future of Crews' family played a large role in his initial signing. And five months later, Crews' son, J.J, was born in Columbia.

In the weeks that followed his son's birth, the support Crews received from his new teammates cemented the family he'd stumbled into. More than just Gates, Crews plans to lean all of the relationships he's crafted long after he's done with collegiate hoops.

"They were there for the biggest moment of my life," Crews said, rehashing his first impressions of his teammates. "I've got relationships that will last a lifetime."

As nonconference play drew nearer, the challenges of nurturing new life began to creep in. Crews had a web of commitments surrounding him between class, practice and caring for his son while adjusting to being further from home than he'd ever been.

"It's rough for anybody," Crews admitted, "trying to be a first-time father while (also) being a husband. I had some family stuff back home, too ... having to take obligations like that, but also mix basketball and being a student was hard."

Mar 19, 2025; Wichita, KS, USA; Missouri Tigers forward Jacob Crews (35) receives the ball during a practice session prior to facing the Drake Bulldogs at Intrust Bank Arena. | Nick Tre. Smith-Imagn Images

It wasn't until January — around the time conference play began — that Crews began figuring out his spot in Gates' rotation. He had to work to do on his 3-point shot, but once it began to fall, he turned into a spark plug for the Tigers off the bench.

In 33 appearances, Crews averaged 5.6 points on 33.6% shooting from distance while attempting the third-most 3-pointers on the roster. His best outing came early in the season against Jacksonville State, when he tallied 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting from 3.

Careful not to take his moments for granted, Crews made clear his gratitude.

"I'm thankful for Missouri taking in a small town kid," he said, "giving him a chance to do something big and change his life forever. I won't forget this year at all."

The Tigers' might have been somber not 10 minutes after their elimination, but Crews found the silver lining in their imperfect situation. Looking around at the men who stuck with him through the ups and downs, the forward wasn't going to let the loss damper his pride.

"This changed my kid's life forever," Crews said. "Being able to change my wife's life forever, my life and my family's life forever ... I'm very thankful."

Feb 19, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Dennis Gates talks to forward Jacob Crews (35) during the second half of a game at Mizzou Arena. | Amber Winkler/MissouriOnSI

Unlike the seniors that have to depart from Gates' program — Caleb Grill and Tamar Bates included — Crews' time in Columbia isn't done yet. Utilizing his lone year of remaining eligibility, Crews confirmed his intentions to return to Missouri for the 2025-26 season.

If he hadn't planned on coming back, Crews' feelings that Thursday night might've been different than they were. Maybe it would have been time to move on from the birthplace of his son, taking on the added challenges of life beyond college basketball.

Instead, the extra season will allow Crews to keep some consistency in his personal and family life, as well as on the court. He's already learned Gates' system and embraced the difficulties of the SEC, along with understanding the game of fatherhood a little better.

Crews' second try with Missouri could be even more promising. That's what Gates is looking forward to most about welcoming his sharpshooter back.

"He could have gone anywhere in the country," the coach said. "That's what it's about. Not making it a transactional thing, but ... transformational. I'm just glad he believed in me."

One year ago, a question mark shrouded the place that Crews was going to call home. Where he was going to start his family. Now better experienced, he's one of the few "knowns" in the largely undetermined next version of the Missouri Tigers.

For a man who's endured as much change as Crews, that's where he finds comfort.

"I'm grateful that I've had people bear with me and support me," Crews said, finally allowing a smirk to overtake his face. "I think the Crews coming back next year is going to be very dangerous. Us as a team is going to be very dangerous, too."