[4] Although his senior season in 2020 was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was considered a top prospect for the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.

[5] However, he withdrew his name a week before, announcing he would fulfill his commitment to play college baseball at Louisiana State University.

[19] In 2023, Crews batted .426 with 18 homers, 70 RBIs, and 100 runs scored and helped lead LSU to win the 2023 Men's College World Series.

The MLB Pipeline ranking on MLB.com listed Crews as the best draft prospect available and projected him to be selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

[31] In his MLB.com draft profile, Crews has been described as "a plus hitter with plus power" with a "quick right-handed stroke" but was noted to have a tendency to whiff on changeups.

The website also described Crews as an "at least average" outfielder with arm strength, an ability to track fly balls, and a potential to play center field at the major league level.

[9] Former LSU head coach Paul Mainieri credited Crews with a preparedness for the college level that he compared to that of alumni DJ LeMahieu and Alex Bregman.