Cole Cloer trending as one of region's top 2026 prospects

Cole Cloer is tracking as one of the top prospects in North Carolina’s talented 2026 class. The 6-foot-6 wing is coming off a travel season where he averaged 12.7 points on 46.8 percent shooting from the field on Nike’s EYBL 15U Circuit. His Team CP3 team won Nike’s Peach Jam 15U Championship after finishing the summer with 18 wins and 2 losses.

Cloer’s high school, Hillsboro (NC) Orange High, is located 11 miles from Durham, North Carolina, and 14 miles from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He won All-District Six first team as a freshman this year, averaging 20.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. Orange’s 17 wins were the program’s most in the last six years.

“I bring versatility to the floor,” Cloer told On3. “I can stretch the floor, rebound, guard whomever, score if the coach needs it. I’ve gotten used to the physicality of the game, and I can tell that. I’m jumping higher, moving faster, so physically, my game has gone to a new level this summer. I watch a lot of Paul George, I feel like we do a lot of the same things. He’s like 6-foot-9 or 6-foot-10 and can dribble and shoot.”

On3 caught up with Cole Cloer after a recent live viewing to talk about the early stages of his recruitment.

Cloer talks schools

“I’ve picked up offers from Wake Forest, VCU, Appalachian State, and High Point so far,” Cloer said. “We’re hearing from NC State, Marquette, Villanova, and UNC, some too.

“I haven’t been on any campuses yet.”

Cloer talks Wake Forest

“They talk about how interested they are in me,” Cloer said. “They’ve already offered me, but they’ve continued to stay in contact with us. They let us know they were coming to watch me play, they wish me luck and all that.

“I’m planning to go visit them and NC State in August.”

Athletic pedigree

Cole Cloer’s brother, Garrett Cloer, played football at Cornell and is currently a firefighter in Durham, North Carolina. 

In his words

“I want to go to a program that will accept me,” Cloer said. “A coach that will accept me for the player that I am and not try to really change anything. I’m going to look closely at the fit of the school. I’m going to look at the play style and everything, but that is going to play a lot into accepting me and the fit.