The Kentucky Wildcats have had their eyes on 5-star phenom Caleb Holt for a while now, but it looks like that chase may be nearing its end-and not in the direction Big Blue Nation was hoping for.
For much of Holt’s recruitment, Alabama has held the edge. The Crimson Tide have the home-state advantage-Holt is an Alabama native-and that familiarity has kept them at the front of the pack.
Kentucky, at one point, was making a serious push and looked to be solidly in the No. 2 spot. But now, there’s a new player in the mix: Arizona.
According to a recent update from On3’s Jamie Shaw, the Wildcats out west are making a strong move for Holt. And there’s a key connection here-Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd coached Holt this past summer during the USA Basketball U19 World Cup. That kind of firsthand exposure can go a long way in building trust and chemistry, and it sounds like it’s paying dividends in this recruitment.
At this stage, Alabama and Arizona are the two programs generating the most buzz around Holt’s decision. That doesn’t mean Kentucky is completely out of the picture, but the momentum has clearly shifted. A decision could be coming soon, too-sources suggest Holt is eyeing a commitment sometime between March and April.
So unless something significant changes in the coming weeks, Kentucky may be on the outside looking in for one of the top players in the 2026 class. Holt is currently ranked No. 4 overall by both Rivals and 247 Sports, and missing out on a talent like that is never easy-especially when you were once right in the thick of things.
Meanwhile, there’s another high-profile recruitment heating up, and this one might offer a little more intrigue for Kentucky fans-though not necessarily the kind they were hoping for.
Jordan Smith, another elite 2026 prospect, now appears to be trending toward Arkansas. Smith, who’s ranked as high as No. 2 overall by 247 Sports, was long considered a near-lock for Duke. The Blue Devils were seen as the heavy favorite from the jump, but the recruitment has taken a surprising turn.
In the NIL era, things can change fast-and they just did. Over at 247 Sports, three straight recruiting predictions have now been logged in favor of Arkansas. That’s a major shift and a potential recruiting coup for John Calipari and the Razorbacks.
If Arkansas does land Smith, it would be a massive win-and a rare recruiting loss for Duke in a battle for a top-3 prospect. For Kentucky, though, it raises a bigger question: when will the Wildcats land their next high school star?
As things stand, Kentucky hasn’t secured a marquee commitment for the upcoming season. And while there’s still time, the current recruiting landscape-shaped heavily by NIL and fast-moving decisions-means programs have to be nimble, aggressive, and, frankly, a little lucky.
The Wildcats aren’t out of the running for every top talent, but with Holt slipping away and Smith looking Razorback-bound, it’s fair for fans in Lexington to start wondering what’s next.