Top-10 2023 Forward Ron Holland Backs Off Texas Commitment

The Duncanville, Texas native considered Kentucky before ending his original recruitment.

On Friday afternoon, a bombshell dropped in the recruiting world, as 2023 5-star small forward Ron Holland announced that he is no longer committed to the University of Texas:

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— _ronhoops (@ron2kholland) April 28, 2023

Rated as the No. 6 overall player in the 2023 class per the On3 Consensus, Holland was a target of Kentucky and head coach John Calipari. The Duncanville, Texas native opted to stay home with then-head coach Chris Beard, choosing the Longhorns over UK, Arkansas, UCLA and the G League. 

UK was eventually cut from the list before he made his initial decision to head to Austin, but could the Cats have a shot in a re-opened recruitment?

Holland took an official visit to Lexington on June 13, 2022. He was offered soon after, but Kentucky never felt like a frontrunner and was one of its only misses in the 2023 recruiting cycle that saw Calipari reel in four 5-stars and a homegrown 4-star. 

“I want to take this time to thank head coach Rodney Terry and the entire Texas coaching staff for their consideration I would also like to thank the Longhorn Nation for all their love and support. While this has been a difficult process, I have decided to decommit from University of Texas and reopen my recruitment. Texas will still be one of my top schools of choice," Holland wrote.

Perhaps the change of head coaches is the sole reason, but Holland joins 5-star point guard AJ Johnson (No. 18 overall) as players to back off commitments to Texas in April. 

More on the soon-to-be Wildcats HERE.

Inside Kentucky basketball's somber locker room after NCAA Tourney defeat HERE.

More on the potential roster overhaul in Lexington HERE.

More on the loss to Kansas State HERE.

Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects.

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