Kentucky just got a quiet but meaningful visit from one of the top guards in the class of 2027.
Five-star point guard Reese Alston finished an official visit to Lexington this week, and the trip came earlier than expected after it had originally been set for mid-October. Ranked No. 9 overall and No. 3 at his position in the latest Rivals Industry Rankings, Alston slipped into town without much noise, then met with the Wildcats before heading back out.
Alston trimmed his list to seven schools in August: Houston, Kentucky, LSU, Louisville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Wichita State. Since then, he has taken official visits to Louisville, Wichita State, LSU and Tennessee. Houston and Vanderbilt have drifted among the realistic options, leaving Kentucky, LSU, Louisville, Tennessee and Wichita State still in the mix.
The Wildcats have been working this one for a while. Alston was in Lexington for Big Blue Madness in 2025, and that was when he first received his offer from Kentucky.
There’s also a built-in connection here: Alston is the son of former NBA guard Rafer “Skip to My Lou” Alston, who played with Mark Pope on the Milwaukee Bucks from 2000-02.
Pope made sure Kentucky stayed heavily involved during the final live period of the summer, opening the crucial championship weekend of travel ball in Texas with assistant coach Mikhail McLean. That stop came on the Puma Pro16 circuit rather than Nike EYBL or adidas 3SSB, a clear sign of how much the staff valued the visit.
“My relationship with Kentucky is pretty good,” he told Rivals’ Jamie Shaw in July. “They have great coaching with Coach Pope, you know, we’ve been able to build a great relationship.
We have a great relationship with Coach McLean, too. The history of Kentucky basketball really stands out to me.
You know, just all the guards they have had, all the guards they have put in the league. And, you know, the great coaches who have been there.
The history stood out to me.”
At 6-foot-3, the Second Baptist (TX) standout put together a huge 2025-26 season, averaging 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Those numbers earned him MaxPreps Junior All-American First Team honors.
Now Kentucky can add a completed official visit to the résumé and keep pushing for one of the most coveted point guards in the class.
In Other News...
Kentuckys Offense May Hinge On One Thing Fans Arent Watching Yet
Mark Pope sounds encouraged about where Kentuckys offense could be headed in 2026-27, and the reason is pretty easy to understand. The Wildcats should have a group with real shooting punch, led by Milan Momcilovic and other capable perimeter threats, which gives Pope a foundation to build around as he shapes the next version of the roster. From a talent standpoint, the spacing potential is there, and that alone should matter to anyone trying to project how this team will score.
Still, Popes focus goes beyond just making shots. He has also pointed to cutting as a major part of the offense, which suggests Kentucky wants to create easier looks and keep defenses moving even on nights when the ball may not be flying in from deep. The shot-making will draw the headlines, but the way the Wildcats combine that shooting with disciplined movement could end up telling the bigger story of how effective this offense really becomes. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Heads Into South Carolina With Receiver Uncertainty And Thin Depth
Kentuckys trip to South Carolina comes with a little more uncertainty than Mark Stoops would probably like this early in SEC play, especially at receiver. The conferences first availability report for Week 5 put Grant Grayton out, while DJ Miller and Cole Marszalek were listed doubtful and Jay Clark questionable, leaving the Wildcats to sort through a thin group as they prepare for a road test that could demand more from the passing game.
There was at least one small positive on the report, with Tavion Gadson not listed, a sign he may be available. South Carolina, meanwhile, is dealing with its own personnel questions, as Stewart is suspended and Brownlow-Dindy remains uncertain after sitting out the previous game, so both sides head into the matchup without a full picture of who will actually be on the field when kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys South Carolina Prep Suddenly Has A Receiver Concern
Kentuckys first SEC availability report ahead of Saturdays trip to South Carolina brought the kind of news that always gets attention this time of week, with the Wildcats sorting through a few injury designations before hitting the road. The report also surfaced an out status in the secondary, adding another layer of uncertainty as the team continues its preparation for an important conference matchup.
The bigger concern on offense, though, is the receiver group, where the Wildcats now have to account for a potential absence that could affect how they plan the passing game. With a busy Kentucky sports weekend ahead and basketball-related events also on the calendar, the football staff will keep its focus on cleaning up the picture before kickoff and waiting for the next update on who will be available. [Read more 🡒]