The major recruiting events this summer are beginning to wrap up, and Louisville basketball’s Pat Kelsey has been flying all over the country. Kelsey is making a notable push for multiple elite recruits in the 2027 recruiting class, but a few are beginning to emerge as his top targets.
Everyone knows Kelsey loves to try and land that elite point guard out of high school, as he claimed the Cardinals are ‘PGU’ after a dominant year from Chucky Hepburn and Mikel Brown Jr. committed to UofL. Now, after Brown went one-and-done and paved the path for other 5-stars to come in, develop and get drafted, Kelsey is painting a picture for more elite 5-star guards.
One point guard who Kelsey has prioritized as of late is 5-star 2027 prospect Reese Alston. The Cardinals head coach has attended multiple games of Alston’s this summer, and while Louisville appears to be one of the top teams making a push, the Cardinals' biggest rival is entering the race.
Kentucky and Mark Pope enter the race for 5-star PG Reese Alston
Alston is one of the top-ranked point guards and prospects in the 2027 recruiting class, so it isn’t a huge surprise to hear Mark Pope and Kentucky are entering the race, but this could become another major recruiting battle between these two rivals.
Kentucky is reportedly making a push for 5-star point guard Reese Alston:
— Casey (@BleedBlueCasey) July 20, 2026
“It appears Kentucky is making a move with him. Mark Pope watched Alston on the first day of the second July live period this past week.
Additionally, UK assistant Mikhail McLean, who attended the same… pic.twitter.com/SGMEwGqaj9
Kentucky and Louisville have battled it out for multiple high school recruits and transfers this offseason and in the past, and it appears Alston is set to be another recruiting battle. Pope was at one of Alston’s games earlier this month, and now it is being reported that the Wildcats are making a push for the 5-star.
Louisville and Kelsey have already been making a push for the elite point guard, as On3 Sports Jamie Shaw reported Louisville was one of the top three teams in contact with Alston. Shaw reported the early stage of the recruiting battle was between Louisville, LSU, and Wichita State, as these three teams were making the most noise.
However, that might change now with Louisville’s rival making a push.
Kelsey was in Virginia to watch Alston last week and was in Texas to watch the Cardinals' 5-star target this weekend. Kelsey has shown he can recruit these elite 5-stars to Louisville and develop them into lottery NBA picks, and now he is trying to get out to an early start with one of the top-ranked point guards.
There are rumors that Alston is considering reclassifying to the 2026 recruiting class, but it depends on the program. Alston told Shaw that some programs are recruiting him for the 2026 class, and some are recruiting him for 2027. It was not reported which class Kelsey and Louisville are recruiting the 5-star for.
The recruiting battle for Alston is amping up towards the end of the summer, and with Kentucky already landing 5-star Ryan Hampton, it is crucial for Kelsey and the Cardinals to avoid Pope and Kentucky getting Alston. The elite point guard ranks as high as No. 6 in the 2027 recruiting class and No. 2 among point guards.
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