Mark Pope and the Kentucky Basketball program welcomed a big-time recruit on a surprise visit this weekend, and it could signal good fortune for the program’s future.
Five-star 2027 point guard Reese Alston took a surprise trip down to Lexington this past weekend, conducting an official visit with Kentucky Basketball. This comes as a pleasant surprise to Big Blue Nation, as the 17-year-old was initially scheduled to visit in mid-October. Getting a blue-chip recruit like Alston to visit campus earlier than expected is a good sign for Mark Pope and his staff, who are looking to assemble a strong high school recruiting class for next year.
Ranked as the ninth overall recruit in the class of 2027 by 247Sports, Alston is the No. 1 player in Texas and the No. 3 point guard nationwide. His final seven schools include Kentucky, LSU, Wichita State, Houston, Louisville, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt. He has already conducted visits with Kentucky, Louisville, Wichita State, LSU, and Tennessee.
While it’s clear that Mark Pope and his staff are pushing hard for the Texas native, a surprise factor may be coming into play: Justin McBride. McBride transferred to Kentucky from James Madison in the summer, and he seems to be taking on the role of active recruiter.
The 6-foot-8 senior recently commented under an Instagram post by Alston, telling the youngster to “come slide” to Kentucky. Recent years have shown the vast impact current and former players can have on swaying recruits, such as when former Wildcat Tyler Herro helped lure top transfer Milan Momcilovic to Lexington earlier this year. Alston receiving encouragement from an active Kentucky player this early in his recruitment process could help turn the tables toward Big Blue Nation.
There’s a reason so many top programs are battling it out over Reese Alston this year. He is a flat-out stud. The son of 12-year NBA veteran Rafer Alston, Reese stands at 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds. He averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.7 steals in his junior season. A strong finisher and three-level scorer, the senior out of Second Baptist High School is at his best in the open court. He’s deceptively strong with good speed in the open floor, thriving as the playmaker for his offense.
His exceptional basketball sense and quick instincts make him an offensive engine for both himself and his teammates, as he possesses a high-grade passing tool with the ability to drive and score with ease. His primary individual weapon is a smooth pull-up jumper he can sink from mid- and long-range, but he is also more than capable of finishing with either hand at the rim.
With plenty of room to grow once he reaches the college level, it’s no surprise to see some of the nation’s top programs chomping at the bit to land the youngster.
While Louisville has been touted as an early favorite for Alston’s signature, Kentucky seems to be making a stronger push as of late. Getting him on campus ahead of schedule is a big step toward getting back to the front of his recruitment, and the Wildcats are showing no signs of slowing down.
Having narrowed his list to seven in August, the next few months will be crucial for Kentucky’s pursuit of the Texas native. He has conducted visits to most of his top options, so the finer details of the recruitment process will begin to come to light in the coming weeks.
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