All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball: New Name to Know on Recruiting Trail

Five-star 2026 wing Caleb Holt was a UNC basketball fan as a kid.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rok Baller-USA TODAY NETWORK
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The UNC basketball staff now appears to be seriously eyeing Buckhorn High School (Ala.) sophomore Caleb Holt, the 6-foot-5, 200-pound five-star implied to Rivals' Rob Cassidy this week. He said members of the Tar Heels' staff recently attended his practice and expressed their desire for him to visit the program.

That makes sense. After all, the explosive talent ranks No. 3 overall and No. 1 among small forwards on the 247Sports 2026 Composite. Moreover, Holt, a candidate to reclassify to 2025, has admitted to rooting for the Tar Heels during his childhood, going as far as referring to UNC as his "dream school."

Thus far, he has checked out Alabama, Auburn, Houston, and Georgia Tech. And he informed Cassidy of his plans to visit Ole Miss, Tennessee, and LSU.

Although it's still early in Caleb Holt's recruitment, Cassidy broke down how things look, listing UNC as one of three teams "to monitor" at this juncture and the only one from that group outside the heralded prep's home state:

"North Carolina easing its way into Holt’s recruitment is certainly notable, seeing as Holt grew up a UNC fan and hasn’t been shy talking about that fact since he first arrived on the radar. That said, SEC powers might make extracting Holt from his home state of Alabama or the region at large a bit difficult.

"Alabama, Auburn, North Carolina are among the early teams to monitor here."

No 2026 recruits have reported a UNC basketball offer yet.

Tar Heel Recruiting: Elite Guard Cuts List in Half

Stay tuned to All Tar Heels on SI.com for more UNC basketball recruiting news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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