A highly rated player performs well in front of Pearl: ‘He’s interested in having me join Auburn.’
HANCEVILLE, Alabama—After securing the 6A state title last season as a freshman at Buckhorn, 5-star small forward Caleb Holt is now closer to achieving his goal of back-to-back championships, following Buckhorn’s 62-37 victory over Cullman on Tuesday morning, advancing them to the Final 4 next week in Birmingham. With Auburn’s Bruce Pearl present, Holt showcased his talent with 22 points and nine rebounds on 10-14 shooting, along with four steals, two blocks, and two assists in the win.
Most of Holt’s impact came in the middle two quarters, following a slow start by Buckhorn that saw them trailing 8-3 after the first quarter. Guard Frederick Derrick’s 10 straight points in the second quarter sparked the Bucks, and Holt capitalized by scoring nine points in the quarter. This surge helped Buckhorn outscore Cullman 24-2 in the quarter, taking control of the game. Holt’s ability to drive to the basket and finish at the rim boosted the Bucks’ offense, as they made 24 of their last 33 shots after starting 1-11 in the first quarter.
