Kentucky makes final five for 5-star guard Caleb Holt

Don’t call it a recruiting comeback for Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats? Just a day after Jason Hart flew out to Seattle to visit No. 1 prospect Tyran Stokes as he dropped 52 points in a high school game, consensus top-10 recruit Caleb Holt has included UK in his list cut down to five finalists.

Kentucky joins Alabama, Arizona, Houston and Providence among schools still under consideration for the nation’s No. 3 overall prospect and No. 1 shooting guard, according to the Rivals Industry Rankings.

Rivals’ Joe Tipton was the first to break the news on Wednesday, via Holt’s agency, Klutch Sports.

NEWS: 5⭐️ Caleb Holt is down to five schools, his agency @KlutchSports tells @Rivals.

The 6-5 shooting guard is the No. 3 overall player in the 2026 class. https://t.co/izGPOZYmD0 pic.twitter.com/Vt4HXakWyz

— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) December 17, 2025

Holt has visited all five finalists — including two trips to Lexington, one official and one unofficial– with no commitment date set at this time.

Ole Miss and Arkansas also received visits and earned some early buzz, but both programs have been cut. He also earned offers from the likes of Auburn, Baylor, UConn, North Carolina, Louisville and Kansas, among others.

Where do things stand with the Wildcats?

“It’s been the same communication as always [from Kentucky],” Holt told KSR earlier this month. “They want me to come in and start next year. Mark Pope is a real believer in me. He wants me to come in and take Otega’s role next year.”

Holt took an official to UK in September before returning for Big Blue Madness in October.

“When I [first] went there, there wasn’t any basketball events going on or a game,” Holt said. “I wanted to see how Big Blue Nation really comes out to support, how I could imagine myself going there, and what the atmosphere would be when I got there.”

What is he looking for in a school as he hits pause on his recruitment during the heat of his senior season of high school basketball and circles back on a decision in the early spring? Someone who wants him badly enough to stick around with him throughout the entire process — proof he’s a top priority in their plans for the 2026-27 college season.

“A lot of teams talk a lot about winning, so I’m watching the season,” Holt said. “People can recruit you early and then fall back off. I want to see who will be there at the end, who really wants me.”

They’re not the current favorite, but the door is still open for Kentucky to land this big fish. Time to see what Pope is made of on the recruiting trail.