Lesean Crooks is from the east coast. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Crooks grew up east in the urban metropolis in is early years before moving further south to Baltimore. Crooks had always been fond of basketball, especially growing up around the dominance of the Big East conference with the likes of Georgetown, Syracuse, Providence, Seton Hall, Villanova, and St. Johns all leaving their mark on 80's basketball culture and history. However, by high school, Crooks moved out to north California with his mother, siblings, and close cousins. In California, Crooks became more exposed to football, thanks to the likes of Washington, Stanford, UCLA, and BYU cultivating prime NFL targets, mainly with through their quarterbacks.
In high school, Crooks became a bonafied two-sport athlete in basketball and football. Crooks locked down opponents on both the hardwood and the artificial turf as a shooting guard and cornerback. Crooks played in two state titles for football and one for basketball while also being named to all state for both sports his junior and senior years. Despite the accolades, Crooks best accomplishments came from his musical production as his band secured a gig opening for Big Daddy Kane during his senior year. Unfortunately, the tour coincided with his basketball team's playoff run and caused him to miss two playoff games.
Despite his team still reaching the state semifinals, many schools questioned Crooks' commitment to the sport and pulled many offers. Kevin Johnson happen to be at a Big Daddy Kane show that Crooks' group opened for and caught them playing basketball on the Cal-Berkeley campus. Johnson told the athletic department to recruit Crooks after witnessing him dominate walk-ons and other college juco transfers attempting to win a spot on the team next season.
Crooks then used his basketball skill to get a scholarship to Cal, but while at Cal, his football pedigree took another ascension. Crooks immediately made an impact on the field as a freshman, becoming one of the best coverage backs for the Bears despite the limited minutes. Eventually, Crooks' could never relinquish the lament of schools spurning him during his senior high school basketball season and became apathetic towards the sport. His passion stayed with football, while he was named to all-conference for 3 seasons, and finished up as runner-up defensive player of the year his junior season. That success carried over to the DSFL as he finished as DPOY runner up his second season and won ISFL S24 Rookie of the Year.
In high school, Crooks became a bonafied two-sport athlete in basketball and football. Crooks locked down opponents on both the hardwood and the artificial turf as a shooting guard and cornerback. Crooks played in two state titles for football and one for basketball while also being named to all state for both sports his junior and senior years. Despite the accolades, Crooks best accomplishments came from his musical production as his band secured a gig opening for Big Daddy Kane during his senior year. Unfortunately, the tour coincided with his basketball team's playoff run and caused him to miss two playoff games.
Despite his team still reaching the state semifinals, many schools questioned Crooks' commitment to the sport and pulled many offers. Kevin Johnson happen to be at a Big Daddy Kane show that Crooks' group opened for and caught them playing basketball on the Cal-Berkeley campus. Johnson told the athletic department to recruit Crooks after witnessing him dominate walk-ons and other college juco transfers attempting to win a spot on the team next season.
Crooks then used his basketball skill to get a scholarship to Cal, but while at Cal, his football pedigree took another ascension. Crooks immediately made an impact on the field as a freshman, becoming one of the best coverage backs for the Bears despite the limited minutes. Eventually, Crooks' could never relinquish the lament of schools spurning him during his senior high school basketball season and became apathetic towards the sport. His passion stayed with football, while he was named to all-conference for 3 seasons, and finished up as runner-up defensive player of the year his junior season. That success carried over to the DSFL as he finished as DPOY runner up his second season and won ISFL S24 Rookie of the Year.
