Top Shooting Guard Caleb Holt Narrows His List to Five, Alabama Still in the Mix
The recruitment of five-star shooting guard Caleb Holt is heating up, and the elite 2026 prospect just took a major step toward his decision. Holt, widely regarded as the No. 1 shooting guard in the nation, has trimmed his list to five programs: Alabama, Arizona, Houston, Kentucky, and Providence.
For Alabama fans hoping to see the New Market native return to his home state, there's still a reason to stay optimistic - even if the competition is fierce.
Holt, a standout at Prolific Prep in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has drawn interest from nearly every major program in the country. He’s already visited a number of schools, including Ole Miss and Arkansas, which are no longer in the running. Other high-profile programs like Auburn, Baylor, UConn, North Carolina, Louisville, and Kansas had extended offers, but didn’t make the final cut.
Arizona and Houston Turning Up the Heat
While Alabama has long been considered a serious contender for Holt’s commitment, it appears Arizona and Houston have surged ahead in recent weeks. Both programs are listed as having “warmer” interest on Holt’s 247Sports recruiting profile, a notch above Alabama, Providence, and Kentucky, who are all labeled as “warm.”
That shift in momentum comes after Arizona’s recent 21-point win over Alabama at the C.M. Newton Classic - a performance that may have left a lasting impression. Houston, meanwhile, continues to build a reputation as one of the most consistent programs in the country under Kelvin Sampson, and they’ve clearly made their pitch resonate with Holt.
What Holt’s Looking For
When it comes to choosing a school, Holt isn’t just looking at wins, losses, or NIL opportunities. He’s made it clear that relationships - especially with the coaching staff - are what matter most.
“Somewhere I’m really comfortable just communicating with the coach, communicating with the assistant coaches, whichever staff feels more like home to me,” Holt told Rivals in a recent interview. A self-described “people person,” Holt emphasized that the “biggest thing” in his decision is trust and his relationship with the head coach.
“If you don’t have that, that’s who you’re going to play there for,” he said. “So if I can’t go talk to my coach comfortably about anything, then I know it’s not for me.”
That insight could be encouraging for Alabama, which has built a strong rapport with the five-star guard. Assistant coach Preston Murphy has developed a close relationship with Holt, and the Tide hosted him for both an unofficial visit in June and an official visit in September. Head coach Nate Oats has also been directly involved, giving Alabama a personal connection that may still carry weight as Holt nears his decision.
Recruitment Timeline and Alabama’s 2026 Outlook
There’s no commitment date on the calendar just yet, and all signs point to Holt taking his time - possibly stretching his recruitment into the spring. That gives each of the five finalists more time to make their final pitch, and for Holt to continue evaluating which program feels most like home.
As for Alabama’s 2026 recruiting class, the picture remains incomplete. The Tide had previously landed a commitment from four-star forward Chris Washington Jr., but he decommitted on Nov.
- That leaves four-star small forward Tarris Bouie as the lone signee in the class so far.
Landing Holt would be a massive win for Oats and his staff - not just because of Holt’s on-court ability, but because of what it would mean to secure the top shooting guard in the country from their own backyard.
For now, the Crimson Tide remain in the hunt. But with Arizona and Houston gaining ground, Alabama will need to lean hard into the relationships they’ve already built - and hope that trust and familiarity are enough to bring Caleb Holt home.