Reese Alston, the five-star guard from Second Baptist and son of former NBA standout Rafer Alston, just made it official: he is taking his talents to LSU. This isn’t just another commitment, folks. We are talking about the No. 9 player in the entire country for the 2027 class, according to 247Sports, and the top-rated player out of Texas. LSU just landed a absolute game-changer.
The Big Decision: Why LSU Won the Reese Alston Sweepstakes
The announcement went down in a special ceremony Thursday afternoon, broadcast live on CBS Sports, no less. Alston chose the Tigers over some serious contenders, including Kentucky, Louisville, Tennessee, and Wichita State. You know it was a big deal when he pulled off his jacket to reveal that LSU T-shirt, making his choice clear. What sealed the deal? His deep, close relationship with LSU coach Will Wade. Alston even shared a powerful quote about it: “I know that a couple losses and a couple turnovers won’t ruin our relationship.” That tells you everything about the trust and belief he has in his future coach. That’s the kind of loyalty and understanding you want your star player to have.
“Lil Skip” Is Bringing Next-Level Talent to Baton Rouge
This kid is special, plain and simple. Second Baptist coach Taylor Land, who has seen talent at both high school and college levels, remembers the first time he got an up-close look at Alston as a sophomore. Land glanced at his assistant, Chris Artis, and they both knew immediately: “This is something different here.” Alston, a 6-foot-3 guard, is now gearing up for his senior season, but his junior year numbers tell a wild story. He averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.7 steals per game, shooting an insane 61% from the floor and 34% from deep. He led Second Baptist to a second consecutive TAPPS Class 5A state title, even dropping 23 points, nine assists, and five rebounds in the championship win. No wonder he was named the Guy V. Lewis Award winner for 2025-26, recognizing him as the top player in the Houston area. Coach Land put it perfectly: “His upward trajectory and his consistent growth has been just super impressive.” He also called him “one of the few guys in the country that can finish over two or three people, but he knows the percentages in his head.” Oh, and being the son of Rafer “Skip 2 My Lou” Alston, Reese has inherited the nickname “Lil Skip,” and he has absolutely dominated the grassroots circuit with his dad coaching his team, Cooz Elite. He even attended the USA Basketball junior national team minicamp this past October.
When college coaches ask about Alston, Land makes sure to highlight the stuff that doesn’t show up on a highlight reel. He’s talking about Alston’s faith, character, and commitment off the court. Land said, “If you’re watching him on the court, and what you see on the court is what you feel like you need for your program, I can tell you, you will be blown away by the entire person.” LSU isn’t just getting a five-star talent, they are getting a complete player with a massive upside, ready to join the ranks of Houston’s elite like DeAaron Fox and Quentin Grimes. Keep your eyes peeled for “Lil Skip” because he is about to make some serious noise in college basketball.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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