Mark Pope is making a run at one of the biggest names in the 2027 class, and it could turn into a Bluegrass tug-of-war.
Kentucky has been working hard on five-star point guard Reese Alston, with Pope and assistant coach Mikhail McLean both seeing him in person this summer. Pope was back on him as recently as last week, a sign the Wildcats are serious about keeping pace in a recruitment that already has Louisville heavily involved.
That part matters. Pat Kelsey has made Alston a priority for Louisville’s 2027 class, assuming Alston stays in that group, and has been a constant presence courtside for nearly all of his games. Kelsey even passed on day one of the July evaluations in Las Vegas to watch Alston, and that move led to the guard praising him.
Kentucky and Louisville are not alone here. LSU, Houston, and Wichita State are also listed with “warm” interest by 247Sports. A reclass could change the picture for everybody, but if Alston remains in 2027, both Kentucky schools should be in a strong position.
The fit is easy to see on both sides. Alston likely would not start for either team this season, with Zoom Diallo ahead of him at Kentucky and Jackson Shelstad in front of him at Louisville. But the path could open up the following year, when both programs could make him a centerpiece of their plans.
For now, Kentucky appears to hold the edge in the 2027 race. The Wildcats already have five-star wing Ryan Hampton in the class, while Louisville’s top addition is four-star forward Ferlandes Wright, which leaves Kentucky in front in this early two-team battle.
Alston brings plenty to like at 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds. He has a crafty handle and can create his own shot going downhill, the kind of guard who can tilt an offense. He also has NBA upside, but he looks like the sort of player a program can build around for a long time.
Kentucky still needs to land a visit first, something Louisville already secured late last year. Even so, Alston’s name figures to keep coming up as 2027 recruiting heats up, and Pope’s push suggests the Wildcats want to move before this one gets away.
If Kentucky can beat Louisville here, even in the recruiting world, it would be a win worth chasing. Pope has a chance to elevate the program’s profile and, at the same time, notch a small victory over his friend Pat Kelsey, with their on-court series sitting at 1-1.
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