This weekend marks the beginning of what promises to be an exciting and action-packed recruiting season in Lexington. The fall recruiting window has officially swung open, giving college coaches the green light to crisscross the country, sit in living rooms, and pitch their programs to some of the top high school basketball players in America. For Kentucky, the road to Big Blue Madness in mid-October starts now, with a steady stream of elite prospects scheduled to visit campus in the coming weeks.
First up on the Wildcats’ calendar? Two of the nation’s most coveted players — five-star guard Caleb Holt and four-star forward Maximo Adams — both of whom are firmly on Kentucky’s radar as potential future stars.
5-star SG Caleb Holt
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Ranking: No. 4 overall, No. 2 shooting guard
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Hometown: Huntsville, AL
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High School: Prolific Prep
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Visits: Ole Miss (April 18), Arkansas (Aug. 30), Kentucky (Sept. 5), Alabama (Oct. 3), Auburn (Oct. 10)
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Kentucky Offer: July 26, 2024
At 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, Caleb Holt is the definition of a fierce competitor. Known for his toughness, athleticism, and defensive tenacity, Holt has already built a reputation as a winner. His résumé includes three gold medals with USA Basketball, an Adidas 3SSB Palmetto Cup Championship, and MVP honors after a summer where he averaged 19.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.5 steals per game.
Originally, Holt’s recruitment was viewed as a showdown between in-state powerhouses Alabama and Auburn. But things have shifted. Holt has left the door wide open for other programs to make a case — and Kentucky is wasting no time in stepping through that door. Coach Mark Pope sees Holt as the kind of dynamic, versatile guard who could lead Kentucky to a national championship.
“(Coach Pope) definitely wants me to come there, he wants me to help them win a national championship,” Holt told KSR. “He believes in me, believes I can play one through three and just impact the game, dominate through my physical ability. My end goal is to hear my name in the draft and he feels like he can help me get there.”
Kentucky may not be the early favorite, but this weekend’s official visit is a golden opportunity to show Holt just how serious the program is about making him the centerpiece of its future.
4-star SF Maximo Adams
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Ranking: No. 23 overall, No. 10 small forward
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Hometown: Harbor City, CA
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High School: Sierra Canyon
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Visits: USC (June 30), Michigan State (Sept. 11), Kansas (Sept. 19), Texas (Sept. 27), North Carolina (Oct. 31), Duke (Nov. 8)
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Kentucky Offer: July 23, 2025
While Caleb Holt is a name fans have tracked for years, Maximo Adams is more of a fast-rising prospect whose stock skyrocketed this summer on the Nike EYBL circuit. Kentucky offered him in July, and the Wildcats have been pushing hard ever since. One factor working in their favor: Adams’ older brother, Marcus Adams Jr., played for Mark Pope at BYU in 2023-24. That family connection could give Kentucky a meaningful edge.
At 6-foot-7 and 200 pounds, Adams brings size, versatility, and efficiency to the table. He’s capable of scoring at all three levels, locking down multiple positions defensively, and hitting the glass with authority. During EYBL play, Adams averaged 19.4 points on 50/39/71 shooting splits with 10.5 rebounds, then turned it up even higher at Peach Jam, putting up 18.8 points and 10.2 rebounds on remarkable efficiency (51/40/86 splits).
“It means a lot to get an offer from Kentucky,” Adams told KSR+ after landing his offer. “Especially coming from Coach [Mark] Pope, who’s a great coach and runs a great program. Mark Pope came from BYU, and my brother went to BYU. Then, he transitioned to Kentucky, and he’s a great coach.”
Big Picture for Kentucky
With Holt and Adams headlining the first big recruiting weekend of the fall, Kentucky is setting the stage for a crucial stretch. At least one elite prospect is scheduled to be in Lexington every week from now until Big Blue Madness. For Mark Pope and his staff, this is where the foundation for Kentucky’s future roster is built.
This weekend, though, all eyes are on Holt and Adams. Can the Wildcats convince them that Lexington is the place where they can grow, compete, and ultimately prepare for the NBA? If so, this could be just the start of something special.
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