Nate Oats has Alabama basketball's top 2026 target in Tuscaloosa for a visit

Basketball practice has begun for the summer in Tuscaloosa, and with the 2025-26 roster mostly finalized after Labaron Philon's last-minute decision to return for his sophomore season, Nate Oats and the staff have now turned their attention to the 2026 crop of prospects.

There is not a player higher on the Crimson Tide's board than 5-star SG Caleb Holt. Holt is the No. 5 overall player in the composite, and the talented two-guard showed up in Tuscaloosa today for an unofficial visit.

Holt has long been a priority target in this class for Oats and company. Holt is originally from New Market, Alabama, but transferred for his junior season to Grayson High School in Georgia. It was recently announced that Holt would transfer to Prolific Prep in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for his senior season.

Oats has had success in recruiting from Prolific Prep in the past. In the 2024 class, Oats brought in teammates Derrion Reid and Aiden Sherrell. Reid has since transferred to Oklahoma, but Sherrell is expected to be a key player for the Crimson Tide next season.

Caleb Holt's shoe deal could throw a monkey wrench into Alabama's chances

The 5-star guard recently signed a deal with Adidas, and that could change things in his recruitment. Alabama, obviously, is a Nike school. It's not a slam-dunk that Holt will sign with an Adidas school, but the apparel company could try to push him toward one of those schools to ensure he can wear their shoes during what will likely be a single collegiate season for the expected one-and-done prospect.

It won't be a dealbreaker for Adidas, however, if Holt goes to a school with a different licensing agreement. They are playing the long game with Holt and expect him to be a future star in the NBA. Cooper Flagg had a deal with New Balance, and that didn't keep him from playing for Duke last season.

Programs such as Kansas, NC State, Indiana, Miami (FL), Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Louisville are notable schools with Adidas contracts.

Holt has notable offers listed from Alabama, Auburn, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and UConn. There will be others who will undoubtedly get involved as his recruitment process heats up over the summer and into the fall.

The good news for Oats and Alabama is that they developed a relationship with Holt early on. Him originally being from the state is helpful, too, as is Oats' history of developing guards and giving them freedom to play in his wide open offensive system.