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Welcome to “Good Morning, Illini Nation,” your daily dose of college basketball news from Illini beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Scott Richey. He’ll offer up insights every morning on Brad Underwood’s team and college basketball at large:
Point guard is a clear position of emphasis in Illinois' early 2027 recruiting efforts. An offer this past weekend to Second Baptist (Texas) standout Reese Alston makes for eight targeted point guards among the current crop of soon-to-be juniors. For reference, the Illini have only offered five other players in the class.
Alston has an interesting mix of basketball pedigree and his own success on the court. The 6-foot-2 guard is the son of former New York streetball legend — turned 11-year NBA pro — Rafer "Skip 2 My Lou" Alston. The elder Alston, who was seen as an inspiration for the AND1 Mixtape Tour, played for the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic and New Jersey Nets during his NBA career.
The younger Alston is already making his own mark. Reese Alston helped Second Baptist, which is located in Houston, go 33-4 this past season and win the TAPPS 5A state championship. Alston finished with 20 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals in the 65-47 title game victory against Arlington Grace Prep.
Alston averaged 21.2 points, 5.2 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 steals during his sophomore season with the Eagles. He scored in double digits in all but two games and had at least 20 points in 23 games. Alston shot 57 percent overall, 42 percent from three-point range and 78 percent at the free throw line.
Alston is currently considered a four-star recruit in the Class of 2026 by 247Sports, On3 and ESPN. He's ranked as high as No. 18 nationally by On3 and has other offers from Houston, Manhattan, Nevada, Nicholls, Norfolk State, Sam Houston, SMU, Stanford, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UCF, UT-Arlington, UTSA and Wichita State.