The early recruiting returns from Mark Pope’s time as the Kentucky men’s basketball coach have been positive.
UK’s 2025 recruiting class already includes a pair of five-star standouts in center Malachi Moreno and guard Jasper Johnson. That group is expected to grow to three players on Saturday, with four-star guard Acaden Lewis widely projected to commit to Kentucky from a final list of schools that also includes Duke and UConn.
Assuming Lewis’ commitment falls into place, Pope will have provided answers to several hot-button questions that surrounded his ability to recruit top high school players.
And looking into the future, Pope’s strong performance recruiting the current class of high school seniors could portend similar success with the 2026 recruiting class, who are currently high school juniors.
One of the players in this 2026 recruiting group that Kentucky has already established a rapport with is Caleb Holt, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Alabama. Holt — who now plays high school basketball in Georgia — is ranked by the 247Sports Composite as a five-star prospect in the 2026 recruiting class.
Holt is ranked as the No. 3 overall recruit for 2026 by that service, and as the top shooting guard in his class. He reported a scholarship offer from Kentucky in July.
“On offense, I can attack the rim, put pressure on the rim. (Play) on and off the ball. I’m working on my mid-range game. On offense I’m trying to become a three-level scorer,” Holt told the Herald-Leader in October while at a USA Basketball Junior National Team minicamp in Colorado. “… On the defensive side, I just try to make (opponents) as uncomfortable as I can. Bothering them, getting my hands on the ball. Make it hard for them to bring it up the court and get into their offense. I just try to be the best I can on both sides of the ball.”
As you can imagine with a prospect of Holt’s ability, Kentucky is far from the only major college basketball program in pursuit. Holt’s offer list also includes the likes of Alabama, Houston, Kansas, Louisville, North Carolina, Tennessee and UConn, among other schools.
But an early differentiating factor for UK has come via the assistant coach who is leading Kentucky’s recruitment of Holt.
Jason Hart — a former southern California high school standout who went on to a successful college career at Syracuse and was a longtime NBA point guard — has been the Kentucky coach in contact the most with Holt.
“It’s great, having a blue blood (offer). Kentucky is one of the most historic college (programs),” Holt said, adding that both Hart and Pope made in-school visits to see him.
Hart — who was previously the head coach of the NBA’s now-shuttered G League Ignite team — was a second-round NBA draft pick in 2000 and played for nine NBA teams as part of a 10-year pro career. He played in 341 career NBA games and averaged five assists per game during the 2004-05 season with Charlotte.
“He was one of the best guards in the league for a minute,” Holt said about Hart, who is under contract at UK for the next two seasons. “My goal is to be one of the best guards in the league. So, him recruiting me, to show that he could get me to where he was, that’s the end goal for sure.”
While Holt is certainly among the most well-regarded prospects in the 2026 recruiting class, he’s far from the only high school junior who holds a scholarship offer from Pope and the Wildcats.
UK has extended scholarship offers to 10 prospects in the 2026 class, including Holt.
“They view me as their guy. They think I’m perfect for their program,” Holt said of the messaging he’s receiving from UK. “Play hard. Play defense. Play offense. Just all-around. Kentucky, they had Coach Cal, but I’m sure they wouldn’t just replace him with anybody. I think Mark Pope is a great fit for Kentucky.”
Holt — who spoke positively to the Herald-Leader about the way he could fit within Pope’s offensively style at UK — is yet to make major progress in his recruitment, at least in terms of cutting schools from consideration or creating a list of his top options. But a big development in his recruitment will come in just a few days’ time.
Holt will be taking an official visit to Ole Miss in early November, which will coincide with Ole Miss’ second home men’s basketball game of the season and marquee home football game against Georgia.
“Just how much of a dog I am,” Holt said of what college coaches like about his playing style. “I’m never running out of energy. Even if I’m tired, I’m still going 100%. I’m going to give whatever coach I play for in college the best version of me.”
As an Alabama native, Holt has already made several unofficial trips to check out the Crimson Tide. Tennessee and Houston are also expected to get unofficial visits from Holt soon, according to 247Sports.
“Just a coach who believes in me, that’s been watching me throughout high school. Just trusting my ability to do things on the court,” Holt said of what will matter to him when choosing a college to play at. “Handle the ball, Play make for my teammates and play off the ball.”
