Louisville’s long chase for Reese Alston reaches the finish line Thursday, when the 5-star point guard is set to announce his college decision at 4:00 PM local time on CBS Sports.
For Pat Kelsey and the Cardinals, Alston has been one of the biggest names in the 2027 recruiting class from the start. Kelsey visited the Houston native multiple times over the summer and made it clear Alston sat near the top of Louisville’s wish list. That push has kept the Cardinals in the mix for months, even as the recruiting race has tightened around them.
Alston, who first narrowed his offer list to seven schools after drawing more than 35 offers, is now down to five. Louisville is in the final group with Kentucky, Wichita State, Tennessee, and LSU.
For much of the process, Louisville looked like the team to beat. Jamie Shaw of On3 Sports had projected the Cardinals to land Alston with medium confidence over the summer, though he noted LSU as a real threat. Fox insider Aaron Torres went even further.
“I think Louisville is going to get this guy eventually; I really do,” stated Torres. “Pat Kelsey opened the recruiting period visiting five-star guard Reese Alston - just like they opened the summer seeing him."
That picture has shifted sharply heading into decision day. Rivals Prediction Meter now gives LSU a 90.7% chance to land Alston, while Louisville sits at 1.1%.
The Tigers picked up an official visit from Alston in September, and they now appear to hold the edge. Still, Louisville has stayed involved throughout, and Kelsey’s effort has been constant.
Alston is a unanimous 5-star point guard and would be a major addition wherever he lands. He’s coming off a season in which he averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.7 steals per game, while earning MaxPreps Junior All-American First Team honors. He is ranked as high as No. 9 overall and No. 3 among point guards.
If Louisville pulls this off, it would give Kelsey his second 5-star point guard commitment in three years and his third 5-star commitment in three straight recruiting classes. If not, LSU enters the day as the clear favorite. Either way, the wait ends Thursday afternoon.
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Pat Kelseys Next Big 2027 Test Is Suddenly Clear For Louisville
Reese Alston was one of the marquee names Louisville chased hard on the recruiting trail, and the Cardinals had every reason to believe they were in the mix until the 5-star guard chose LSU instead. For Pat Kelsey and his staff, the miss is a reminder of how competitive the battle for elite backcourt talent will be as Louisville tries to keep stacking the kind of class that can change the programs trajectory.
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