LSU lands No. 9 guard Reese Alston, boosts 2027 recruiting class to No. 2

Reese Alston, a five-star guard from Houston, committed to LSU on Thursday. The move gives the Tigers their second five-star recruit for the 2027 class. It also places the program in the top two nationally for that cycle according to 247Sports.

Alston is ranked No. 9 overall by 247Sports. He is the son of former NBA guard Rafer Alston. The high school senior attended Second Baptist High School in Houston. He chose LSU over Louisville, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Wichita State. Alston will join King Gibson and Ahmad Hudson in the basketball recruiting class. Hudson is also committed to the football team as a five-star tight end.

This is the first five-star recruit that coach Will Wade has signed since returning to LSU. Wade previously relied on the transfer portal and international players to build his roster for the 2026-27 season. That squad includes several players currently in court disputes over a fifth year of eligibility. The new approach emphasizes recruiting high school talent earlier in the process.

The 247Sports Director of Scouting noted that Alston can consistently create offense for himself and his teammates. He operates as the primary offensive option. He has adequate size and length. He maintains balance through contact and possesses good open floor speed. He also has leaping ability when he has a runway.

Alston is an on-ball defender. He can guard the length of the floor, a skill that is not yet widely known. He is the latest top-20 ranked player in his class to announce a commitment. Other top prospects have also signed in recent days, shifting the balance of power in the 2027 cycle.

LSU is in Tier 3 for basketball budgeting. This range covers $15.1 million to $17.5 million. The Tigers are joined in this tier by Miami, Arizona, USC, Michigan State, Missouri, Auburn, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, and South Carolina.