COMMIT ALERT: NC State Lands Elite 2026 In-State Prospect Cole Cloer
NC State basketball landed a marquee piece for its future on Saturday, as 2026 four-star wing Cole Cloer announced his commitment to the Wolfpack.
Cloer, a Hillsborough, N.C. native and one of the top-ranked prospects in the country, is considered one of the premier talents in the Southeast and gives head coach Will Wade a major recruiting win.
The 6-foot-7 small forward is ranked among the top 25–30 players nationally in the Class of 2026 by multiple services and has held the No. 1 spot in North Carolina for his class throughout his high school career.
| Recruiting Service | Stars | Overall Rank | Position Rank | State Rank |
| ESPN | **** | No. 25 | No. 10 SF | No. 1 NC |
| On3 | **** | No. 28 | No. 13 SF | No. 4 FL |
| 247 | **** | No. 27 | No. 13 FL | No. 5 FL |
| 247 Composite | **** | No. 29 | No. 13 SF | No. 5 FL |
He chose NC State over a strong list of suitors that included North Carolina, UConn, Alabama, Florida, and Indiana among others.
Cloer first made a name for himself at Orange High School before transferring to Caldwell Academy (NC) where he averaged 18.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game while hitting more than 40 percent of his three-point attempts.
For his senior season he chose to move to IMG Academy (FL) to provide a chance to face more national competition after a strong Nike EYBL stint with Team CP3 where he averaged 15.3 points and 4.8 rebounds.
What does his commitment mean for NC State?
Well, a lot. The addition of Cloer is about more than just statistics. It represents a recruiting breakthrough under Wade, who has emphasized blending high school talent with experienced transfers to construct a sustainable, competitive roster. A cycle after landing Top 25 prospect Matt Able, Cloer is the next high-level prep player to choose Wade and the Pack.
He joins four-star center Trevon Carter-Givens in the Wolfpack’s two-man class.
Perhaps just as important as the on-court talent is what Cloer’s decision says about NC State’s momentum. Landing an in-state blue-chip prospect over traditional ACC rival North Carolina is no small feat. Cloer had a visit scheduled for North Carolina this weekend but canceled his trip, instead choosing to commit to NC State.
He has admitted he grew up a Wolfpack fan, so being able to land him over a rival... huge.
The commitment also gives Wade and his staff a chance to build forward with confidence. Having a local star locked in early in the 2026 cycle could attract additional high-profile recruits, as peers often take notice when a consensus top-25 prospect makes his choice. It sets a tone that Raleigh is once again a destination for elite basketball talent.
Finally, as a player, State is landing one of the top perimeter shooters in the class and a player with great positional size who can finish at the rim athletically and is improving off the dribble.
Cloer is a massive pickup for NC State. Stay tuned for more on his decision from Inside Pack Sports!
