LSUs Early 2027 Surge Just Raised The Stakes For Will Wade

Reese Alston's commitment to LSU bolsters Will Wade's 2027 recruiting class, signaling a new strategic direction for the team.

Reese Alston has given LSU a major lift in the 2027 recruiting cycle.

The five-star guard, ranked No. 9 overall in the class by 247Sports, announced his commitment to the Tigers on CBS Sports HQ on Thursday. Alston chose LSU over Louisville, Kentucky, Tennessee and Wichita State.

A Houston Second Baptist product, Alston is the son of former NBA guard Rafer “Skip 2 My Lou” Alston. His pledge makes him the third commitment in LSU’s 2027 class, alongside four-star combo guard King Gibson and Ahmad Hudson, who is also committed to the Tigers football team as a five-star tight end.

With Alston in the fold, LSU now owns the No. 2-ranked recruiting class for 2027. He also becomes the first five-star high school recruit Will Wade has landed since returning to LSU.

The commitment points to a different path for Wade as he starts shaping the roster for the 2027-28 season. LSU leaned heavily on the transfer portal and international players to piece together its 2026-27 group, and Wade has been open about his “unconventional roster,” which includes several players battling in court for a fifth year of eligibility.

247Sports Director of Scouting said Alston can consistently “create offense for himself and his teammates.”

The evaluation matches the player’s profile. Alston is described as an offensive engine who is most comfortable setting the tone as the lead option.

He has adequate positional size and length, deceptive strength and balance through contact, good open floor speed and some sneaky leaping ability when he has a runway. He is also considered an underrated on-ball defender who can pick up for the length of the floor, even if that is not what he is best known for right now.

Alston’s decision also comes during a busy stretch for elite recruits in the class. Earlier this week, four-star forward Asa Montgomery committed to Duke, while five-star center Lewis Uvwo chose Providence on Wednesday and became the highest-ranked player in the upcoming cycle to commit.

LSU was listed in Tier 3, with a budget range of $15.1 million to $17.5 million. That group also included Miami, Arizona, USC, Michigan State and SEC schools Missouri, Auburn, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt and South Carolina.

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