Five-star guard Reese Alston committed to LSU on Thursday, live on CBS Sports HQ, choosing the Tigers over Louisville, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Wichita State. Ranked as the No. 9 overall player in the 2027 recruiting class by 247Sports, the Houston Second Baptist product gives coach Will Wade his first five-star high school recruit since returning to LSU.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- Backcourt Synergy: Alston projects to run alongside fellow five-star commit King Gibson, creating an offensive and defensive backcourt pairing for the 2027-28 college basketball season.
- Recruiting Momentum: This addition propels LSU to the No. 2 spot nationally according to 247Sports, marking a shift in Wade’s roster construction strategy for the 2027-28 campaign, in contrast to his heavy reliance on international prospects and the transfer portal leading up to the 2026-27 season.
- NIL Standing: LSU currently sits in Tier 3 of the college basketball NIL landscape—sharing a budget range of $15.1 million to $17.5 million with SEC rivals like Auburn and Oklahoma.
A High-Value Addition to Wade’s 2027 Class
By making his pledge official, Alston becomes the 2027 cycle’s third commit for LSU, uniting with King Gibson as well as Ahmad Hudson, who has additionally pledged to the Tigers football program as a five-star tight end. Operating primarily out of Houston’s Second Baptist School, Alston arrives in Baton Rouge with an extensive list of accolades.
As a junior during the 2025-26 high school season, Alston posted 22.2 points, 5.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.7 steals per contest across 34 games, earning first-team MaxPreps Junior All-American honors and the Guy V. Lewis Award as the top boy’s basketball player in the Greater Houston area. Those numbers follow a sophomore campaign where he averaged 21.2 points, 5.2 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game.
| Season | Points Per Game | Assists Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Steals Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 (Soph.) | 21.2 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 2.4 |
| 2025-26 (Jun.) | 22.2 | 5.3 | 3.9 | 2.7 |
Recruiting Battleground and Scouting Profile
The recruitment process for the 6-foot-3 guard came down to a group of finalists. After narrowing his list in August to LSU, Kentucky, Louisville, Tennessee, Wichita State, Houston, and Vanderbilt, Alston took official visits to LSU, Kentucky, Louisville, Tennessee, and Wichita State, taking his trip to Baton Rouge on September 5. In the final stages, LSU and Louisville emerged as the main contenders under Will Wade and Pat Kelsey.
Scouts compare Alston to NBA star and 2019 second-overall pick Ja Morant. According to the 247Sports Director of Scouting, Alston functions as an offensive engine who thrives as the primary domino in an attack, boasting adequate positional size, deceptive strength through contact, and open-floor speed. Beyond his scoring output, scouts note his capacity as an underrated on-ball defender capable of full-court ball pressure.
Shifting Strategy in Baton Rouge
Securing Alston marks a notable pivot in roster management for Will Wade. Heading into the 2026-27 season, the program relied heavily on the transfer portal and international additions, navigating an unconventional roster structure featuring players utilizing legal avenues for extra eligibility.
With Alston, Gibson, and Hudson locked in, the coaching staff secures a high-school-heavy foundation. Alston’s lineage adds further context to the pledge; his father, Rafer “Skip 2 My Lou” Alston, played 11 NBA seasons after becoming widely known for his streetball career under the nickname “Skip 2 My Lou.”
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
