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Where NC State stands with in-state four-star small forward Cole Cloer after Will Wade’s hiring

2019_WP_Icon512x512by:The Wolfpacker•05/14/25•

TheWolfpacker

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2026 Four-Star SF Cole Cloer (Photo credit - Phenom Hoop Report)

By Noah Fleischman

The college basketball coaching carousel came and went. But as programs replaced their leaders, Hillsborough (N.C.) Caldwell Academy four-star small forward Cole Cloer has had to replace several phone numbers in his contact list. 

Some are because the same programs are still interested with new coaches, while other teams have decided to jump into the mix of his recruitment going into the summer before his senior year. No matter who is on the other end of a phone call or a text, Cloer has spent much of his time learning more about the newcomers who are interested in his services.

“It’s been busy,” Cloer told TheWolfpacker.com. “I enjoy it. This is what you’ve wanted for the longest time. Schools are recruiting heavily. New coaching staffs, new schools. Definitely a lot of new numbers calling. Different ideas, different teams to watch.”

As Cloer goes through the recruitment process, NC State continues to stand out. The Wolfpack entered the mix with Kevin Keatts’ staff, and the interest carried over to Will Wade’s staff once the 42-year-old took over in Raleigh. 

Wade, a perennial winner at every stop he’s been at, has called Cloer twice since he arrived with the Wolfpack. The Pack’s new coach wants to put an emphasis on recruiting in North Carolina, and targeting the state’s top recruit in the 2026 cycle seems to be a good start to that. 

Cloer was intrigued by the Wolfpack when Keatts was around, but now with Wade, he seems to be even more interested than before. 

“I love him,” Cloer said of Wade. “He’s a great coach. Great coach at LSU, great coach at McNeese. Now, he’s at a great program like NC State. Hopefully, he’ll get them back on the right track where they should be.”

Although NC State has Cloer’s attention, the No. 30 recruit in the country has a long list of programs on his mind. Alabama, Florida, Louisville, North Carolina, Ohio State, Tennessee and Wake Forest are in the mix along with the Wolfpack. 

The 6-foot-6, 175-pound Cloer has yet to cut his recruitment down, but he’s currently working to do that. He’d like to set visits soon, likely for the fall when students return to campuses around the country. 

“I’m starting to narrow things down now, still going through it all and figuring it out,” Cloer previously told On3. “But I don’t really have a set date or time frame for anything yet. Whenever I feel it, I’ll know. I don’t want to put an exact time or date on anything, but I should narrow things down in the next couple of months.”

Cloer, who averaged 18.9 points with 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists as a junior, has aspirations of playing in the NBA one day. He hopes to pick a program that can set him up for success with that career goal, but he’s also looking for the team that will fit him the best.

“Fit is everything for me,” Cloer said. “I want to go somewhere where I will fit into the style of play offensively and defensively. Trust with the coach is big as well. Going somewhere the coach trusts how you play and doesn’t try to change who you are. I feel like I’m starting to showcase who I am a little more now.”

As Cloer continues to think about focusing on a handful of programs going into his senior year, NC State remains in the mix. Wade, who has made the NCAA Tournament seven times in his 11 years as a Division I head coach, certainly caught Cloer’s attention. 

And the coveted recruit believes Wade is the one who can get the Pack pushing the ACC’s top programs on a consistent basis.

“I think he’ll be able to get them back on the right track,” Cloer said. “He can get them to the top of the ACC with the Dukes and the Carolinas.”

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