2026 Recruiting: Cole Cloer cuts his list to 8 schools

[HooperScooper]

UConn makes the first cut. The other thread on him is locked so I had to start a new one. But I linked it below so you can see the progression in his recruitiment and what happened earlier this past spring.

Cole Cloer, a high four-star small forward in the 2026 class, is down to eight schools. Moving forward, the 6-foot-7 rising senior of Caldwell Academy (NC) will consider Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Louisville, NC State, North Carolina, UConn, and Virginia.

UCONN: “They’ve been the best program in college basketball over the past four or five years. They won back-to-back championships. Coach (Dan) Hurley is a maniac, and that is exactly what you want. You want a coach who loves basketball; you don’t want anything else other than that. I love Coach Hurley and Coach Kimani (Young), and my relationship with them has grown over the past few weeks. They put out NBA players, and they have a system they know works. When you’re their guy, you’re their guy. They’re loyal.”

Top-30 recruit Cole Cloer down to 8 schools

Cole Cloer has trimmed his list of schools down to eight: Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Louisville, NC State, North Carolina, and others.

www.on3.com

2026 Recruiting: - Cole Cloer offer

www.the-boneyard.com

 

[husky99]

Very uconn positive

 

[Huskyforlife]

Another 6'6/7 shooter with solid handles, we have a type. I'm wondering if anyone else thinks his arms look long?

 

[REB1094]

That quote about UConn is perfect. If he’s willing to buy in to everything he just said, then I think it will work out nicely for all involved

 

[Mister P]

No lie. I had a dream 2 nights ago that we signed the 2026 #1 player out of NC. His national ranking at the time of the signing was #16. We shall see…..

 

[HooperScooper]

UConn is a very real player as well. Dan Hurley is a fan of his game and the Huskies are making a strong push for him. I think UConn is a very real contender.

With all that being said, it sounds like the three schools currently positioning themselves the best are Alabama, Florida, and UConn. I still wouldn’t count out others like North Carolina and NC State.

The latest insider buzz on Top-30 recruit Cole Cloer

Joe Tipton goes behind-the-scenes in the recruitment of Cole Cloer and discusses what he's hearing on the national top-30 recruit.

www.on3.com

Alternate access:

The latest insider buzz on Top-30 recruit Cole Cloer​

 

[auror]

Want. But a lot of tough suitors with momentum.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Want. But a lot of tough suitors with money..

FIFY

 

[Castlevania]

Caldwell Academy is in my hometown. Greensboro, NC. I was trying to figure out why On3 says the school is in Hillsborough. I'm gunna go to few of their games and check him out in person.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Caldwell Academy is in my hometown. Greensboro, NC. I was trying to figure out why On3 says the school is in Hillsborough. I'm gunna go to few of their games and check him out in person.

Your avatar makes me laugh every time I see it. That's all I've got.

 

[kansashusky]

Him and Mingo are the two big wants from a the staff.

 

[Ricker]

Him and Mingo are the two big wants from a the staff.

If true, that really surprises me. I would think our biggest wants would be the best players we have a shot at that cover our biggest positions of future need. We likely will need to replace impact scorers and Toure/Samuels are impact scorers. Reed's final year begs for a major talent at center that Diane would seem to fit like a glove. I love Mingo but Demary can still be here. Cloer is a good player but I don't think he is leaps and bounds better than some other guys at his position, and it seems like a position the portal can generally provide. Maybe the biggest wants also factor in the likelihood of a commitment. Mingo/Rippey, Toure/Samuels, Diane/____, would make good sense to me as players capable to chase championships.

 

[auror]

If true, that really surprises me. I would think our biggest wants would be the best players we have a shot at that cover our biggest positions of future need. Cloer is a good player but I don't think he is leaps and bounds better than some other guys at his position, and it seems like a position the portal can generally provide. Maybe the biggest wants also factor in the likelihood of a commitment. Mingo/Rippey, Toure/Samuels, Diane/____, would make good sense to me as players capable to chase championships.

Need a Karaban replacement, too.

 

[husky429]

If true, that really surprises me. I would think our biggest wants would be the best players we have a shot at that cover our biggest positions of future need. We likely will need to replace impact scorers and Toure/Samuels are impact scorers. Reed's final year begs for a major talent at center that Diane would seem to fit like a glove. I love Mingo but Demary can still be here. Cloer is a good player but I don't think he is leaps and bounds better than some other guys at his position, and it seems like a position the portal can generally provide. Maybe the biggest wants also factor in the likelihood of a commitment. Mingo/Rippey, Toure/Samuels, Diane/____, would make good sense to me as players capable to chase championships.

The positions you NEED a guy are likely to be filled with the portal. We needed a guard this year, right? Why go with a maybe from the high school ranks when you could have a sure thing P5 player like Demary.

Based on that interview Tom gave, the future is in the portal and we're probably looking at 2-3 man high school classes tops. No more Fab-5

 

[Matrim55]

If true, that really surprises me. I would think our biggest wants would be the best players we have a shot at that cover our biggest positions of future need. We likely will need to replace impact scorers and Toure/Samuels are impact scorers. Reed's final year begs for a major talent at center that Diane would seem to fit like a glove.

We will get a bruiser upperclassman from the portal to replace Reed.

 

[HooperScooper]

If true, that really surprises me. I would think our biggest wants would be the best players we have a shot at that cover our biggest positions of future need. We likely will need to replace impact scorers and Toure/Samuels are impact scorers. Reed's final year begs for a major talent at center that Diane would seem to fit like a glove. I love Mingo but Demary can still be here. Cloer is a good player but I don't think he is leaps and bounds better than some other guys at his position, and it seems like a position the portal can generally provide. Maybe the biggest wants also factor in the likelihood of a commitment. Mingo/Rippey, Toure/Samuels, Diane/____, would make good sense to me as players capable to chase championships.

You like Samuels? Everything I read about him doesn't sound like a Hurley guy. Can he change when he gets to college? Certainly. Have you read this thread? So many bad comments. In Hurley I trust though.

2026 Recruiting: - Qayden Samuels

Specifically, Georgetown, Maryland, Rutgers, UConn and Villanova are heavily involved and were out to see Samuels during the high school season. The five-star said Arkansas, Louisville, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and Tennessee were some of the schools out to see him during the live session in...

www.the-boneyard.com

 

[ec33]

The positions you NEED a guy are likely to be filled with the portal. We needed a guard this year, right? Why go with a maybe from the high school ranks when you could have a sure thing P5 player like Demary.

Based on that interview Tom gave, the future is in the portal and we're probably looking at 2-3 man high school classes tops. No more Fab-5

Would love Mingo and Cloer, but the portal is great for PGs (we just got two likely good ones for next season) and the international market has plenty of potential AK replacement (there was a reason the staff wasn't too concerned about AK not making a quick decision of his draft status).

Personally I want Toure for local reasons. And I think Diane and sophomore Reibe would be a nightmare duo for opponents to contend with. But there are plenty of ways to get there with various combinations.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Him and Mingo are the two big wants from a the staff.

Toure?

 

[kansashusky]

Toure?

If he commits early. If he drags it out, no.

 

[Castlevania]

Looks like he transferred to IMG Academy, so much for checking him out in person lol

 

[husky429]

Looks like he transferred to IMG Academy, so much for checking him out in person lol

We were getting on a plane to watch him either way.

 

[HooperScooper]

Sounds like a Hurley type player.

5. Four-Star SF Cole Cloer​

You can hear someone yell “shooter” every time Cole Cloer gets an open look. You have to stay on him when he’s behind the three-point line. If he has his feet set, his shots from deep are typically going in and he can heat up quickly. Cloer finished with 21 points, five rebounds, and three assists. North Carolina, Louisville, NC State, Alabama, UConn, Florida, Virginia, and Indiana make up his top eight.

Saturday's Top Performers at Nike EYBL

Joe Tipton is in North Augusta, South Carolina for EYBL Session 4. Here are your Saturday Standouts from the loaded day of action.

www.on3.com

Alternate access:

Saturday's Top Performers at Nike EYBL​

 

[husky429]

Sounds like a Hurley type player.

5. Four-Star SF Cole Cloer​

You can hear someone yell “shooter” every time Cole Cloer gets an open look. You have to stay on him when he’s behind the three-point line. If he has his feet set, his shots from deep are typically going in and he can heat up quickly. Cloer finished with 21 points, five rebounds, and three assists. North Carolina, Louisville, NC State, Alabama, UConn, Florida, Virginia, and Indiana make up his top eight.

Saturday's Top Performers at Nike EYBL

Joe Tipton is in North Augusta, South Carolina for EYBL Session 4. Here are your Saturday Standouts from the loaded day of action.

www.on3.com

Alternate access:

Saturday's Top Performers at Nike EYBL​

Need

 

[superjohn]

Sounds like a Hurley type player.

5. Four-Star SF Cole Cloer​

You can hear someone yell “shooter” every time Cole Cloer gets an open look. You have to stay on him when he’s behind the three-point line. If he has his feet set, his shots from deep are typically going in and he can heat up quickly. Cloer finished with 21 points, five rebounds, and three assists. North Carolina, Louisville, NC State, Alabama, UConn, Florida, Virginia, and Indiana make up his top eight.

Saturday's Top Performers at Nike EYBL

Joe Tipton is in North Augusta, South Carolina for EYBL Session 4. Here are your Saturday Standouts from the loaded day of action.

www.on3.com

Alternate access:

Saturday's Top Performers at Nike EYBL​

He's awesome. I want Mingo, Toure, and Cloer.

 

[Mister P]

From a game a few days ago. Great looking shot and release. Dan and Kimani must have been impressed.