Elite 4-star forward commits to Randy Bennett, Sun Devils

Randy Bennett has yet to coach a single game for the Sun Devils, but he's already making waves on the recruiting trail. After putting together a stellar transfer class shortly after being hired, Bennett now has his first high school recruit of the 2027 class.

And it's a big one:

Carson Crawford is a small forward prospect out of Orange Park, Florida. He's currently ranked as the 50th best player in the entire nation, according to 247 Sports. The outlet also has Crawford as the 13th best small forward nationally and the 11th best player in the state of Florida.

Crawford chose Arizona State over a handful of other offers from programs with more tangible on-court success. The list includes Texas A&M, Providence, Florida State, and Syracuse.

Arizona State offered Crawford back in May, just two months after Bennett was officially hired. He had not previously been a target under Bobby Hurley's tenure, nor was Bennett targeting him while at St. Mary's.

Nevertheless, Bennett was able to sell Crawford on the potential of the program under his direction. Crawford visited Arizona State over the weekend and made his decision shortly thereafter.

As a junior last year, Crawford exploded onto the scene for Fleming Island High School. Listed at 6'6" and 180 pounds, Crawford averaged 17.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. Crawford's evolution into an all-around stat-sheet stuffer helped lead Fleming Island to the state title game for the first time since 2019.

Now, both Crawford and Bennett are hoping for similar greatness out in Tempe.