Caleb Gaskins is one of the youngest five-star prospects in the class of 2026, not turning 18 years old until well after his high school graduation. He might be one of the most mature and tempered hoopers in that group. Gaskins is very quiet by nature, and his pregame routine might be one of the quietest things about him. The only member of his team with headphones donned, he listens to music while locking in before games.
“My playlist is a variety of things that calm me,” Gaskins said. “I just try to thank God and show my gratitude — that’s what gets me locked in the most. I pray before tipoff two or three times.”
Gaskins recorded 20 points, 11 assists and three blocks during his first game of the 2026 Panini Hoophall Classic against Sierra Canyon.
“We got to be together more as a team throughout the game,” Gaskins said about his performance on Saturday, where the Explorers lost 75-58. “I feel like we can compete on a higher level and show that throughout every game — even in all our losses.”
Columbus showcased that attitude in a big way during Monday’s matchup, which was televised on ESPNU. Gaskins struggled in the first half with just two points and three rebounds, but rebounded with 14 second half points, giving him 16 points for the game. They recorded 11 assists as a team, and Gaskins garnered just one of his own. Columbus lost the game 65-56.
The senior is committed to the University of Miami for next year, and said that staying close to home was a key factor in his recruiting process. Being one of the earlier commitments in his class — choosing Miami was a weight of Gaskins’ shoulders.
“Staying at home was a big factor. There was a lot of love that never wavered from the coaches,” Gaskins said. “Once I committed it was an instant relief. I knew that’s where I wanted to be so that helped me just be able to focus strictly on basketball.”
A high volume scorer at heart, Gaskins takes pride in his midrange shooting abilities. He will certainly contribute to the high-powered offense of the Hurricanes, who score over 86 points per game on over 50 percent shooting from the field. However, just because Gaskins is already one of the best at the high school level doesn’t mean he’s done working.
“It’s a big year for me to show all the work that I put in,” Gaskins said. “I could easily give up and say ‘Sure, I don’t care anymore’, but regardless of what happens I’m still going to push through.”
Photo by Nick Pantages/The Student