2027 5-Star PG Reese Alston schedules Purdue official visit for Jan. 24, why it matters
A major early recruiting domino is set to fall in West Lafayette.
Reese Alston, the Houston, TX Second Baptist point guard who’s widely viewed as one of the top guards in the 2027 class, has scheduled an official visit to Purdue for January 24.
For Purdue, it’s a chance to get one of the nation’s premier underclass lead guards on campus in a setting that typically accelerates relationships and, in many recruitments, starts to separate “serious contender” from “just an offer.”
Who Alston is
Alston is a 6-foot-2 point guardfrom Second Baptist School in Houston.He also plays grassroots ball for Cooz Elite on the Puma Circuit, a proving ground where high-major staffs track top underclass talent all spring and summer.
He’s also the son of former NBA point guard and streetball icon Rafer “Skip To My Lou” Alston, and Reese has leaned into that lineage with his own identity as a skilled, confident floor general.
A quick snapshot of his recruitment so far
Even for an elite prospect, Alston’s early recruitment has moved quickly:
Visits already happening: He took unofficial visits to Kentucky, LSU, SMU, and Wichita State during the fall.
Official visits starting: Alston’s first official visit was to Louisville (Dec. 13), and Purdue has been the other official visit that’s been anticipated, now locked in for Jan. 24.
That timeline matters: official visits are a different level of access and intentionality than “dropping by” for an unofficial, and the fact that Purdue is on that short list this early is a meaningful signal.
How he plays: what makes Alston elite
Alston’s game starts with control.
NBA Draft Room’s scouting notes describe him as a “big time talent” who can create his own shot, has burst and change of pace, consistently gets into the lane, and shows passing vision, with the usual underclass note that he’ll need to add strength.
He easily creates in traffic, noting his ability to make plays “through traffic that no other camper could” in a standout showcase setting.
Production-wise, he’s already been a high-level driver of winning: As a sophomore he led Second Baptist to a 33–4 record and a TAPPS 5A state championship, averaging 21.2 points, 5.2 assists, 2.4 steals (plus 4.3 rebounds).
Put simply: he projects as the type of guard who can run your team, score when a possession breaks down, and make others better, the modern “lead guard” archetype college staffs build around.
Why the Jan. 24 Purdue official visit is significant
1) It’s an “official” and that changes the stakes
For an elite 2027 prospect, an official visit is a statement: it typically means the family is prioritizing deeper evaluation of that program and relationship-building with the staff.
2) Purdue is getting him to campus early in the cycle
Early official visits can shape everything that follows: which schools get revisits, which staff becomes “the most trusted,” and which development plan resonates before the summer circuits ramp back up.
And Purdue isn’t trying to “enter” the picture, they’re trying to own real space in it.
3) The timing comes after real momentum in his recruitment
Alston’s recruitment has already included big-stage exposure and blueblood attention (including his recent Kentucky unofficial and the broader list of high-major interest discussed in recruiting coverage).
So when a prospect like this schedules an official, it’s not a random stop. It’s usually the result of sustained communication, fit conversations, and a belief that the relationship is worth investing a premium visit date in.
What to watch during the visit
When a lead guard like Alston takes an official, the visit usually centers on a few core questions:
Role clarity: How Purdue envisions him long-term as the on-ball organizer and late-clock creator.
Development plan: Strength, decision-making, shot profile, and how they project his body and game to mature.
Program fit and relationships: How he connects with the staff and support structure—and whether the environment feels like a place he can grow for multiple years.
Written by Alex Karamanos | January 15, 2026