4-star SF Cole Cloer officially signs with NC State

Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star small forward Cole Cloer officially joined NC State’s recruiting class by signing with the Wolfpack on the final day of the fall signing period, the program announced Wednesday morning.

Cloer, the No. 26 player in the Rivals Industry rankings, is the second prospect to ink his name with the Wolfpack’s 2026 recruiting class, joining Paso Robles (Calif.) SoCal Academy four-star center Trevon Carter-Givens. Both players will join the program next season.

“Cole is an exciting pickup for us,” NC State coach Will Wade said in a statement. “It was a great recruitment and really excited that Cole is running with the Pack. He is a great, great player. He’s somebody that’s going to be able to step in and make an immediate impact for us. He can really shoot the ball. He’s got great height, he’s got great length and really shoots the ball at a high, high level. He’s somebody that does a really good job getting his shot off, has a quick trigger and every time he shoots it you think it is going in.

“He’s continued to expand his game, being able to beat guys off the bounce, does a great job getting on the offensive glass. He’s a plus-defender because of his length and athleticism and being able to switch. He’s really just a great fit for us all around. It’s a bonus that he’s right up the road and grew up an NC State fan, but we would have recruited him if he was anywhere in the country. We’re thrilled he’ll be with us and know he’s ready to go and help us from day one.”

Cloer, who committed to NC State over Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and UConn in early October, averaged 18.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game as a junior at Greensboro (N.C.) Caldwell Academy last season. Before his time at Caldwell, Cloer became the fastest player in program history to reach 1,000 points at Hillsborough (N.C.) Orange High, including 25.7 points per game as a sophomore.

The 6-foot-7, 185-pound recruit grew up an NC State fan, and with Wade at the helm of the program, he felt like the Wolfpack could provide everything he needed to be sucessful.

“I can still achieve my dreams here,” Cloer told The Wolfpacker after his commitment. “I can win a national championship here. I can win an ACC championship here. I can go to the NBA here. You know what I mean? I can play in front of my family here. Like, it’s a no-brainer.”

The Hillsborough, N.C., native was invited to participate in training camp for the 2025 USA Men’s U19 National Team, while he was also named to the 2025-26 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Boys High School Player of the Year Watch List this season.

NC State holds the No. 20 overall recruiting class in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Rankings, after the early signing period.