While the North Carolina Tar Heels try and break out of their rut this college basketball season, they’re also trying to recruit for the future.
It’s nearly Christmas, making it the perfect time to watch prospects, as cities across the nation hold Holiday Tournament.
Some of the UNC coaching staff is getting a piece of the recruiting pie this December, currently spending time at the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.
There’s one particular star North Carolina has its eye on: Caleb Holt, the Class of 2026’s third-ranked player, Georgia’s top-ranked player and the nation’s top-ranked shooting guard.
The Tar Heels are in hot pursuit to land a commitment from Holt, whom they offered back in July. Holt is one of six players with a 2026 offer from UNC, which also extended offers to 5-star power forwards Tyran Stokes and Miikka Muurinin, 5-star small forwards Cameron Holmes and Cole Cloer, plus a fellow 5-star shooting guard in Jordan Smith.
If North Carolina wants to land a commitment from Holt, it’ll have to beat out 19 other schools looking at him, including two elite SEC programs in Auburn and Kentucky.
Holt, who now plays his high school basketball for Grayson High in Loganville, Ga. originally hails from Alabama. Holt’s first season at his new school is off to a solid start, as he has the Rams off to a 9-0 start.
Being able to land Holt would re-assure every UNC fan of Hubert Davis’ recruiting abilities. Despite landing 5-stars Drake Powell and Ian Jackson in the 2024 class, North Carolina is falling behind in the Class of 2025, with just two commitments from Isaiah Denis and Derek Dixon.
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