Charlotte, N.C. - Johnson & Wales Charlotte head women's basketball coach Alexius Hampton is happy to announce the signing of Peyton Caldwell as the third member of the Wildcats' 2026 recruiting class.

Caldwell attended Mars Hill University in 2025-26, appearing in 11 games for the Mountain Lions. She scored a career-high 3 points against Wingate on January 10th. She was a decorated player at Freedom High School in Morganton, N.C. She is the 3rd leading scorer in FHS history, tallying 1,807 points. She was a three-time All 3A/4A Northwestern Conference selection and was twice voted 1st Team All-District. She also earned MVP honors at the Freedom Christmas Invitational.

She is the daughter of Dawn and Derrick Caldwell and plans to major in Health Science at Johnson & Wales. When asked why she chose to become a Wildcat, she replied, "I love the school and how its in the heart of Charlotte and the basketball team and coaches."

Coach Hampton is ecstatic to add a player of Caldwell's caliber to the team. "We're excited to add Peyton to our program. As a guard with experience at the Division II level, she brings valuable leadership and an understanding of what it takes to compete at a high level. Her ability to score and lead from the guard position will make her a great addition to our team."