Crawford grew up in East Garfield Park on the West Side of Chicago. He attended Ryerson Elementary School and was a basketball star at the now defunct Cregier High School. In 1976, Crawford graduated from Northeastern Illinois University.
Crawford hailed from East Garfield Park in Chicago's West Side. He studied at Ryerson Elementary School and excelled at basketball at the now-closed Cregier High School. In 1976, Crawford earned a degree from Northeastern Illinois University.