One of the top recruits in the 2026 basketball recruiting class happens to be a native of the state of Alabama. The recruitment of Caleb Holt was always going to be a fierce in-state battle between Alabama and Auburn, with plenty of out-of-state schools prepared to offer significant NIL packages to lure the 5-star SG away from home.
Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide might have gained a significant leg up on Monday with the news of Bruce Pearl's sudden - but not completely unexpected - retirement. The keys to the Auburn program have been handed over to his son, Steven Pearl, and Auburn fans have already begun talking themselves into the Nepo hire working out for them as if there aren't countless examples to the contrary.
It's this Arrested Development meme come to life.
Oats has been on fire on the recruiting trail recently. Alabama landed two commitments a couple of weeks ago from 4-star wings Chris Washington Jr. and Tarris Bouie. Alabama also hosted a plethora of elite prospects for official visits, Holt included.
Holt took his official visit to the Capstone for the weekend of September 13th, alongside fellow 5-star recruits Dylan Mingo and Jaxon Richardson.
Holt is one of the most highly sought-after recruits in the country. 247 ranks him as the No. 3 overall recruit in the 2026 class. Holt is originally from New Market, Alabama, but transferred to Grayson High School in Georgia for his junior season. He transferred again to play out his senior season at Prolific Prep in Florida.
Holt has a scheduled visit for Auburn set for October 10th, but it remains to be seen whether that visit takes place.
Steven Pearl can't sell Auburn like Bruce did, and Oats outrecruited his Dad already
Nate Oats was already consistently outrecruiting Auburn under Bruce Pearl, and the elder Pearl's boisterous personality was able to sell the Tigers to top recruits. The biggest knock on Steven Pearl has been his lack of personality, which has made him an underwhelming recruiter.
You can bet that Oats and top assistant Preston Murphy will take advantage of that with Holt, and plenty of other top recruits who grew up dreaming of playing for one of the in-state schools at the next level.
Oats already had Alabama positioned to sign one of the top classes in college basketball in the 2026 cycle. Pearl's retirement announcement makes that fact even more likely.
While the date of Pearl's decision might best benefit his son and the current team, as the 30-day Transfer Portal window is likely to have an impact this late in the game, it is undoubtedly to the detriment of Auburn's ability to build its 2026 class.