2025 four-star point guard Jaylen Petty has committed to play for Stanford, as first reported by the Seattle Times’ Percy Allen.
Jaylen played his senior season at Seattle’s Rainier Beach High School. He was the Washington Player of the Year as well as the state tournament MVP, leading Beach to their tenth state title. Alumni of his high school include Nate Robinson, Jamal Crawford, Doug Christie, Dejounte Murray, and Kevin Porter Jr, and his senior season was up there with any of theirs.
I watched a few of Jaylen’s state tournament games in March, back when he was still committed to New Mexico. As a Washington native, I still follow high school basketball in the Evergreen State, especially come tournament time. Jaylen was so clearly the best player in a tournament full of D1 commits, including a 26 point performance in the state title game.
One of the Rainier Beach assistant coaches was Jamal Crawford, and Jaylen has some of him in his game. Like Jamal, Jaylen has the ball on a string, and can use an enviable crossover to get where he wants on the court. He can also smoothly pull up off the bounce, as well as use his elite vision to make plays for others. He has flash to his game, but is always under control and makes the right decisions. Jaylen even converted a four-point play, reminiscent of the greatest to ever do that, Jamal Crawford.
After the state championship, Crawford was effusive in his praise of Petty.
“He’s one of the best kids I’ve ever been around,” Crawford said. “In the group chat he’s sending prayer verses to his teammates. If they need anything, he’s there for them. It’s like he’s been here before. I’ve never worked with a kid that’s been that obsessive with being great, the small details.”
In his interview with Allen, Jaylen explained his Stanford decision.
“[Stanford’s] a great opportunity both from an education standpoint and certainly basketball-wise as well,” Jaylen said. “The opportunity was too great to pass up. They’re getting a dog for sure and a player who wants to win.”
Kyle Smith is building a program with the core values of Faith, Family, Team and Academics. This signing feels like the perfect fit. Petty decommitted from New Mexico after a coaching change.
Jaylen was also one of the standouts of last summer’s NBPA Top 100 camp, with one outlet naming him on their First Team for the camp. He showcased his natural feel as a point guard, efficiently controlling the game on offense and making big plays defensively.
On the season, Jaylen averaged 24.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.2 steals, highlighted by a 61 point, 15 assist, and 15 steal performance in January in which he outscored the opponent by himself.
Jaylen joins the previously committed guard Ebuka Okorie and forward Kristers Skrinda in Stanford’s 2025 class. Like Ebuka, Jaylen was named his state’s player of the year. The two guards are each around 6’0”, which I believe to be why they have been underrated by recruiting outlets.
The three new recruits are joining a new look team in 2025-26. Last season’s Stanford roster featured five true freshmen and two redshirt freshmen. Maxime Raynaud and Jaylen Blakes set a strong baseline for the Kyle Smith era. Now Kyle’s looking toward a youth movement to reach new heights. Jaylen Petty figures to be a big part of that.