6’5 rising Sophomore Caleb Holt is an emerging player who has been turning heads with his exceptional skills and raw talent since 8th Grade. Holt as an 8th grader played up with a 16u travel Adidas sponsored basketball team called, “Game Elite.” Even while playing up, he’s still managed to dominate and that’s carried over to high school as Holt is one of the top players of the 2026 class. People probably don’t realize he’s from Alabama, a place more known for its football roots, but that doesn’t bother Holt. “I am going to put Alabama on the map,” said Caleb Holt. We talked with the now gold medalist of the 16u USA basketball team on the process of playing up against older players and how his dad says defense is the key for him to make the roster.
Jordan Richard:
All right. We’re here with Caleb Holt. It’s been non-stop for you these last couple weeks or months. How’s your body feeling and then how’s the camp so far? Two-a-days every single day in altitude, but how you feel like your body is holding up? How do you feel like [inaudible 00:00:15]
Caleb Holt:
My body feels good. At home, I put a lot of work in my body. As I put a lot of work, I do a lot of recovery. Ice baths, Epson salt baths, NormaTec and stuff like that. I try to do the best I can to recover. I’m pretty used to the two-a-days, the three-a-days. The altitude is crazy, though. Yeah, got to adjust to that. Yeah.
Jordan Richard:
Yes, sir. Let’s just rewind back. I mean, started off in the eighth grade playing with 16U. You’ve been playing up, I mean, your whole life. How has that helped you? How do you feel like your game is, I mean, well, just start off with how that’s helped you first.
Caleb Holt:
I think it’s helped me a lot; slowing down, being more physical, being used to contact, people being bigger and stronger, so I have to use finesse and stuff like that, just using my skill more than strength and stuff.
Jordan Richard:
Yep. Then I would say ninth grade, but eighth grade, how do you feel like your game’s improved from eighth grade to the end of your freshman season now? Yeah.
Caleb Holt:
I think in eighth grade, I used to try to play a lot fast, do everything fast. But as I got older, and I started working at it a lot more, I learned how to slow the game down. The game slowed down for me a lot. It made the game a lot easier.
Jordan Richard:
Yep. Then you’re coming out of Alabama. It’s known for football. How do you feel like it’s been for you, basketball? We had JD Davison come out of there too. But how do you feel like the game is starting to prove out of the there, out of Alabama? [inaudible 00:01:33]
Caleb Holt:
I think I’m putting Alabama on the map. People in Alabama they’re like, “Alabama got no hoopers.” But I think it’s got low-key hoopers. I think I can get them on the map.
Caleb Holt:
Get us some respect.
Jordan Richard:
Alabama Crimson Tide. I mean, they’ve been playing well too, as well.
Caleb Holt:
Yeah, they been playing good. They made it to the tournament. They should’ve won, but yeah.
Jordan Richard:
Then one thing that really sticks out, I know a lot of people talk about this, is defensively. I mean, even out there, you just got a lot of steals, hands on the ball. You can guard 94 feet too, as well. Guard on different defenders. Where did that come from? Yeah, just talk a little bit about that.
Caleb Holt:
Well, there’s a lot of great players here and everybody can score, everybody knows they can score, so I think for me to make this team and separate myself, I have to be a defender. I have to be locked down. I have to talk on defense, communicate with my teammates, so just be stand out on defense more than anything to separate myself from other people.
Jordan Richard:
You’re saying that really early. Who installed that in you? Does that come from yourself or you watching?Where’d that come from?
Caleb Holt:
Yeah. My dad, he called me last night. He was like, “Scottie Barnes, that’s what he did.” He was like, “He made the team like that.” That’s what I’m trying to do.
Jordan Richard:
Yeah, I love it. I love it. Who’s some players that you’ve been watching as of late too? On the NBA side, what’s some players that you’ve been watching and like?
Caleb Holt:
My favorite player is Anthony Edwards right now. I try to model my game after Anthony. I like Scoot. I like Steph Curry. I like KD. I like Devin Booker’s game also.
Jordan Richard:
You’re the first player to say that Anthony Edwards is your favorite player.
Caleb Holt:
Yeah.
Jordan Richard:
What stands out about Anthony Edwards that you like?
Caleb Holt:
I think we’ve got the same physical build and he’s from Atlanta. I like Atlanta guys. I think I like his skill work. I like how he uses the pick and roll. He slows the game down and stuff on the court, so I try to model my game after that.
Jordan Richard:
Yep, and last question. For kids, since you were the one that played up, I mean, a lot of kids want to play in their age group. How do you feel, like you could tell kids playing up, how it helps your game? Yeah.
Caleb Holt:
Yeah, I think because right ow some people want to play their age group to say they’re better than that player, but rankings don’t really matter, so I played up. It’s good to be ranked. But if you’re not ranked, don’t get down on yourself. It just means you got a lot more working to do. Playing up pushes yourself. It pushes you at a very young age so you know what to expect when you get older.
Jordan Richard:
Yep.