Utah State men’s basketball head coach Tim Duryea announced Tuesday the addition of Crew Ainge as part of the 2015-16 signing class. Ainge will join the team for summer conditioning but will leave on an LDS Church mission and suit up for the Aggies for the 2017-18 season.
“We are very excited to have Crew joining us in 2017 after he completes his mission,” Duryea said. “He will actually go through our summer program with us before departing for his mission in August.
“Crew's basketball knowledge is well beyond his years and he has been exposed to the game at a high level in his young life. He can really run a team from the point guard position, and he is excellent in the pick and roll game at making plays for his teammates or himself. Aggie fans will love Crew’s passion and competitiveness.”
Ainge, a 5-foot-11 point guard, is the youngest son of Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge and attended Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire, where he was second-team all-NEPSAC. Ainge played AAU ball with the New England Playaz.
Ainge’s best games during his senior year included a 35-point effort against Brewster Academy, where he shot 4-of-9 from behind the 3-point line and 15-of-17 from the free-throw line. He also recorded a triple-double during the season, logging 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Holderness.
Ainge is one of two signees leaving on LDS Church missions, joining Brock Miller who committed to the Aggies in November.
Utah State returns a wealth of talent in 2015-16, including all five starters and nine letterwinners that led the team to an 18-13 record in 2014-15 and a fourth-place finish in the Mountain West. The list of returners includes all three of Utah State's all-conference selections in senior guard Chris Smith, junior forward Jalen Moore and sophomore forward David Collette.
Kyle Cottam is the Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations at Utah State University.