Not every call between Alabama basketball assistant coach Preston Murphy and Caleb Holt is about the game. A lot of the time, the uncommitted five-star recruit says they're talking about what's under the hood.
Don't mistake it for coach speak. They're talking cars. Plain and simple.
The X's and O's come up as necessary, but so do Model Xs and Model Ys.
"We have that in common," Holt told On3's Joe Tipton .
If you've seen a Cybertruck rolling around campus or in the parking lot at Coleman Coliseum, now you know it belongs to Nate Oats' right-hand man and recruiting mastermind.
"He drives a Cybertruck, and I drive a Tesla, too. So we Tesla bros," Holt said.
NEW BLOOD: Three nationally-ranked guards from 2026 class schedule visits with Alabama basketball
REQUIRED READING: Alabama basketball former Mark Sears misses debut with Milwaukee Bucks due to injury
Holt didn't clarify which model he was whipping behind the wheel, but told YouTube influencer VersaceBoyEnt that he was already driving his "dream car," although his "dream, dream car" is a Rolls-Royce.
Auburn has also offered the Huntsville native, but Holt is often quick to mention the Crimson Tide first when answering questions about playing for his home state.
"Alabama is my hometown, so it'll be a dream to play for my hometown state. But I'm going based off fit," Holt said of his pending decision.
"Alabama means a lot. Nate Oats and them, they've been on me since the eighth grade."
Holt added the Tigers have been in pursuit of him since then, too. Because Auburn was his first offer, Holt said he's "always" keeping them "in the mix."
It sounds like the decision will be made on the feel of his official visits, which he has set for Alabama on Oct. 4 and Auburn on Oct. 10. Holt took an unofficial visit to Tuscaloosa in June and spent more time with Oats while playing for the 2025 USA Men's U19 National Team this summer.
Kentucky, Kansas, Houston, Baylor, Providence and Ole Miss are among potential destinations for Holt, but the in-state rivals are dominating the conversation to win one of, if not the most, complete guard in the 2026 recruiting class.
Holt is listed in the On3 Industry Rankings as the fifth overall recruit in the 2026 cycle and the No. 2 shooting guard prospect in the country.
Wherever he goes, Holt wants to go somewhere with an "actual need" for him on the roster and play for a coach that lets him defend.
"If I feel like, you know, they recruit other five-stars, which is cool to play with some of those guys. But I want to have somewhere I can get loose and play my game without some other five-star wanting the same," Holt said.
As for the next conversation between Holt and Murphy, Alabama's "Mudita" mentality might be in the cards.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball recruit Caleb Holt is talking more than hoops with Preston Murphy
