Kentucky missed out on another key recruiting target in the class of 2026 on Tuesday when five-star shooting guard Caleb Holt announced his commitment to Arizona during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take.
Holt, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard from Florida, had been one of the top prospects on Mark Pope’s recruiting board. The Wildcats hosted Holt earlier in the recruiting cycle,
including a visit to Lexington during Big Blue Madness, as the coaching staff made a strong push to bring the elite scorer to Kentucky.
Despite that effort, Holt committed to Arizona, which is a major addition in the 2026 class. The five-star guard is widely regarded as one of the top overall prospects in the country and brings size, athleticism, and scoring ability to the perimeter.
Kentucky, meanwhile, remains without a commitment in the 2026 recruiting class as Pope and his staff continue to hunt for their first commitment this year. While Holt is now off the board, Kentucky remains heavily involved with one of the biggest names in the class.
Five-star small forward Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 overall player in the 2026 class, has yet to announce his decision. Kentucky and Kansas are considered the two main teams in his recruitment.
The 6-foot-7 forward is expected to take another visit to Lexington following the conclusion of his high school season. Landing Stokes would immediately give Kentucky some momentum going into the transfer portal and trying to build a team for next year.
