Caleb Holt, No. 4 recruit in 2026 SC Next 100, picks Arizona

Caleb Holt, the No. 4 faculty basketball prospect in the 2026 SC Next 100, has dedicated to Arizona, turning into Tommy Lloyd’s highest-ranked recruit since taking on in Tucson.

Holt, who introduced his determination Tuesday on ESPN’s “First Take,” selected the Wildcats after additionally taking journeys to Houston, Kentucky, Alabama, Providence and Arkansas again in the autumn.

Lloyd coached Holt final summer time with the USA Basketball U19 crew, and the 2 developed a powerful relationship.

“He took me under his wing. He saw my potential,” Holt advised ESPN. (*4*)

The two started to kind a bond final summer time and it continued all through the autumn and winter recruitment, together with on Holt’s official go to to Arizona in early October.

“He is a straightforward person, keeps things real with you and he does not sugarcoat anything,” Holt mentioned. “Whatever he believes, he stands by it. He is easygoing off the court and serious on the court. He is a blast and loves to have a good time off the court.”

A 6-foot-5 guard from Georgia who performs at Prolific Prep (Florida), Holt turns into the highest-ranked prospect to decide to Arizona since Deandre Ayton in 2017. He is the fourth five-star prospect to decide to Arizona underneath Lloyd, following the signings of Koa Peat and Brayden Burries final 12 months.

Holt has gained three gold medals with USA Basketball: the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in 2023; the FIBA U17 World Cup in 2024; and final summer time’s FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup. He averaged double figures in scoring in every of the final two FIBA occasions.

He was additionally arguably the most effective participant on the Adidas 3SSB circuit final summer time, averaging 19.4 factors, 7.4 rebounds and a pair of.5 steals for the Game Elite program, and was named MVP of the Adidas Eurocamp in Italy over the summer time, the place he confirmed vital enchancment on his 3-point shot.

Holt is among the finest two-way gamers and winners in the 2026 class. He has established himself as an power defender who makes dynamic finishes together with his power, energy and velocity. Over the course of time, his ballhandling and taking pictures has taken a giant step, and he reveals spectacular court docket imaginative and prescient and basketball IQ when studying ball screens or taking part in off the ball. He thrives in transition however can rating off the dribble or together with his jumper.

He can be a high-level defender and an on-ball disruptor with a 6-9 wingspan, and he has drawn comparisons to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace on the identical stage.

Holt is the second dedication for Arizona in the 2026 class, becoming a member of in-state prospect Cameron Holmes, who’s No. 50 in the SC Next rankings.

Lloyd will possible have to switch no less than 5 – 6 gamers from the No. 2-ranked Wildcats’ eight-man rotation, with Burries, Peat and Motiejus Krivas all ranked in the highest 30 of ESPN’s most up-to-date NBA draft Big Board.

Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley and reserves Tobe Awaka and Anthony Dell’Orso are all seniors.