As the 2025-26 college basketball season kicks into gear, Kentucky basketball is still waiting for its first commitment in the high school class of 2026.
Granted, Kentucky has focused heavily on the transfer
portal since Mark Pope arrived, while his current team is full of guys who could return for next season, including Jaland Lowe, Jasper Johnson, Trent Noah, Collin Chandler, Mo Dioubate, Brandon Garrison, Braydon Hawthorne, and Kam Williams.
That means Kentucky can be a bit pickier when it comes to high school recruits, but there are a few guys they’d love to have next season: Tyran Stokes and Caleb Holt.
While Stokes appears to be the recruit that the Wildcats are in the best shape for, they’re also making a strong push for Holt, even though he’s been widely viewed as someone expected to play for Alabama or Auburn since he’s grown up in the Alabama and Georgia areas.
Well, one recruiting analyst thinks it’s a very close battle between the Crimson Tide and Wildcats for Holt.
Rivals reporter Jamie Shaw just released an updated set of predictions for the top class of 2026 prospects. That included an update on Holt’s recruitment, which could be affected by what Stokes decides to do.
“Speaking with sources, it felt like there was some early momentum with Alabama. Recently, my sources have started to mention Kentucky. One source told me that they are watching what Tyran Stokes does with regard to Holt,“ wrote Shaw.
When it came to a prediction, Shaw went with an Alabama or Kentucky pick, with 25% confidence, while Houston is the biggest threat to derailing that projection.
While not exactly a firm pick, it is good to see Kentucky is neck and neck with the perceived favorite for Holt, who is ranked as high as No. 4 overall in his class by Rivals.
For Stokes, Shaw is sticking with a Kentucky prediction, with 35% confidence, while Kansas is the biggest threat.
“Kentucky remains the school that my sources are saying the most about, but recently, Kansas has also jumped into that conversation. The early assumption from people I am talking with is that the nation’s No. 1 overall player in 2026 would sign during the early period. Keep watching for a commitment timeline to emerge,“ said Shaw.
Nothing really new there, but it is good to see Kentucky is still viewed as the leader. If Stokes ultimately commits to the Wildcats, the belief is that it will take them out of the running for Holt.
But if Stokes ends up at Kansas or somewhere else, it sounds like Kentucky is a real threat to land Holt.
You want more A Sea Of Blue coverage? Then add us to your “Preferred Sources” on Google to get all the latest Kentucky Wildcats news and views. And Go CATS!
