Buckhorn standout Caleb Holt is one of 12 members of the 2024 USA Men’s Under 17 National Basketball team, it was announced today by USA Basketball.
The Alabama Sports Writers Association named him the 42nd Mr. Basketball in April, the first sophomore to earn that award. The 6-foot-6 forward/guard led the Bucks to back-to-back Class 6A state titles and was MVP of both tournaments. Holt averaged 20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3 steals and 2.4 assists for the 23-5 Bucks during the 2023-2024 season.
Holt was a member of the FIBA U16 National Youth Team in 2023 that won a gold medal in the FIBA Men’s U16 Americas Championship in Merida, Mexico. This year, he was named the Gatorade and MaxPreps Alabama Player of the Year and the ASWA’s Class 6A Player of the Year for the second straight season. He was the seventh underclassman to win Mr. Basketball.
Holt, a 5-star prospect who is ranked as the No. 3 recruit nationally according to 247sports, was selected after five days of training camp in Colorado Springs that included 34 hopefuls for the dozen spots on the roster. All of the players are from the high school graduating classes of 2025 and 2026.
Holt will take part in the FIBA Men’s U17 World Cup beginning June 29 in Istanbul, Turkey. The opening game in the Group B phase of the tournament is scheduled to be against France at 9:30 a.m. CT followed the next day with a 7 a.m. game vs. Guinea. On July 2, the USA will play China – a team the United State holds a 5-0 record against – with tip set for 4:30 a.m. CT. The tourney continues through July 7.
All 16 teams in the tournament will advance to the single-elimination stage of the event following group play.
The USA squad is 44-0 all-time in the FIBA U17 Men’s World Cup dating to 2010. The team has won six consecutive gold medals.
According to its website, USA Basketball is the national governing body for the sport of basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, USA Basketball is responsible for the selection and training of USA teams that compete in FIBA-sponsored basketball competitions and select national events, and for the development of youth basketball initiatives addressing player development, coach education and safety.
The U17 staff is made up of head coach Sharman White of Pace Academy in Atlanta, and assistants Scott Fitch of Fairport High in New York and Chet Mason of Brush High in Lyndhurst, Ohio.
The rest of the U17 team with position, height, age and hometown:
Cameron Boozer, F, 6-9, 16, Miami, Fla.; Cayden Boozer, G, 6-3, 16, Miami, Fla.; Chris Cenac Jr., C, 6-10, 17, New Orleans; AJ Dybantsa, F/G, 6-8, 17, Brockton, Mass.; Jalen Haralson, G, 6-7, 17, Anderson, Ind.; JJ Mandaquit, G, 6-1, 17, Hilo, Hawaii; Brandon McCoy Jr., G, 6-4, 16, Oakland, Calif.; Koa Peat, F, 6-8, 17, Chandler, Ariz.; Jordan Smith Jr., G, 6-3, 16, Washington, D.C.; Tyran Stokes, F, 6-7, 16, Louisville, Ky.; and Jaden Toombs, C, 6-10, 17, Amarillo, Texas.
