Earlier this week, Louisville basketball got some bad news that 5-star guard King Gibson committed to LSU over the Cardinals. Kelsey was making a push for the elite combo guard as he landed an official visit and secured a spot in Gibson’s final four.
Louisville's No. 1 target is clear after 5-star guard King Gibson's update
However, the Cardinals just missed out on Gibson, as the 5-star committed to Will Wade and the Tigers. The 5-star ranked as high as No. 13 overall and No. 2 among combo guards, and while he would have been a huge addition to the Cardinals' 2027 recruiting class, maybe it might be a blessing in disguise.
Louisville must go all-in on 5-star Reese Alston
Gibson was one of the nation's top recruits, and there is no debate that Louisville fans would have loved the 5-star if he'd committed to UofL. However, with Gibson committing to LSU, that could be good for Louisville.
The Cardinals have been making a major push for another elite guard, Reese Alston. What makes Louisville missing on Gibson possibly a blessing in disguise is that one of the 'Cardinals' top competitors and threats for Alston is Will Wade and the LSU Tigers.
So, with LSU landing Gibson, will the Tigers pursue Alston the same way they were? Will this almost take them out of the race and push Alston to look elsewhere? These are all reasonable questions. Louisville fans just saw this with DeMarcus Henry’s recruiting process: UConn landed 5-star forward Jordan Page, which led the Huskies to remove themselves from the race for Henry.
Now, the hope is the same for Alston’s recruiting process. LSU and Wade can, of course, still push for Alston and try to land both 5-stars and have them play alongside one another, but does that interest Alston? This lets Kelsey make a huge pitch to Alston that he wants the 5-star to be the guy, like he did with Mikel Brown Jr., who went on to be the No. 6 overall pick in the NBA Draft.
Alston ranks as high as No. 9 overall and No. 3 among point guards. He is an elite guard who Kelsey has made clear is one of his top targets in the 2027 recruiting class. Louisville already hosted the 5-star for an official visit, and after Alston visited LSU, Kelsey made a trip to Alston. Beyond those visits, Kelsey attended multiple recruiting camps this offseason to build his relationship with Alston and watch the 5-star in action.
Many see Louisville as the frontrunner right now, with Jamie Shaw predicting the Cardinals will land Alston and Aaron Torres calling Louisville the “team to beat.”
“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."
Louisville is in Alston’s final seven, and many believe the Cardinals' biggest threats are Kentucky, LSU, and Wichita State, but hopefully, with LSU landing Gibson, that possibly removes the Tigers from the mix.
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