Recruiting expert says Kentucky could have had Caleb Holt if not for Tyran Stokes pursuit

Mar 31, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Caleb Holt (3) during the McDonalds All American Boys Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Did Kentucky miss out on Caleb Holt and maybe other high-level prospects by targeting Tyran Stokes?

One college basketball analyst seems to think that is a possibility.

This week, 247 Sports’ Travis Branham said that had Kentucky not gone all in on Tyran Stokes and focused more on Caleb Holt, the latter would likely have become a Wildcat.

Kentucky was very high on Holt, the No. 3-ranked player in the class. He took an official visit to Kentucky last September and made a return trip for an unofficial visit to Big Blue Madness in October.

Alabama was originally viewed as the favorite in his recruitment, but Kentucky was believed to have narrowed the gap. Eventually, however, Kentucky faded, and Arizona made up some ground, with Holt ultimately opting to sign with Tommy Lloyd’s squad.

There were some questions about whether the two ultimately wanted to play together at the collegiate level, and then there’s obviously the NIL factor, with both players expected to receive a significant NIL package.

With the likelihood of Stokes landing at Kentucky seemingly declining by the day, this just adds to an already tough situation. Holt would’ve certainly been a massive recruiting win for Mark Pope, as many expect him to be one of the top players in college basketball next season.

Just another tough break for Kentucky.