All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball: Top-Three Recruit Awaits Call From Tar Heels

Two of the highest-ranked 2026 prospects admittedly grew up UNC basketball fans.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis (James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports)
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In an interview with Burner Ball this week, Buckhorn (Ala.) five-star small forward Caleb Holt implied that the UNC basketball staff is beginning to knock on the door of his recruitment.

And that makes sense. After all, the 6-foot-5, 185-pound electric wing sits at No. 3 overall on the 2026 ESPN 25, and his former AAU coach with Aim High Jet Academy in Atlanta is none other than Tar Heel legend Kenny "The Jet" Smith.

"I was told UNC is going to reach out," Holt told Burner Ball when breaking down his current and potential suitors, including Alabama, Auburn, Duke, Georgia, Georgia Tech, and LSU. "I haven't heard from [the Tar Heel coaches] personally, but Kenny Smith is a mentor of mine."

On top of that, during a chat with Rivals' Rob Cassidy in December and a handful of other interviews elsewhere, Holt indicated another reason UNC may want to enter the fray.

"I grew up a big North Carolina basketball fan and a Georgia football fan," he pointed out to Cassidy. "UNC is probably my dream school, though."

Caleb Holt, a candidate to reclassify to 2025, isn't the only heralded high school sophomore who has been open about his UNC basketball fandom. Another is Prolific Prep (Calif.) power forward Tyran Stokes, a 6-foot-7, 225-pound bruiser who now ranks No. 2 overall in the class.

RELATED: Potential No. 1 Recruit Tyran Stokes Wears Tar Heel Gear

Despite that pair of uber-talented Tar Heel enthusiasts sitting near the top of the national rankings, UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis and his cohorts have yet to extend an offer to any 2026 preps.

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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