The high school recruiting process is in full swing for the class of 2026, and no player may be more coveted by the North Carolina Tar Heels than Cole Cloer. It’s not just because of his extraordinary talent on the court.
Cloer, the No. 22 prospect in the country according to ESPN, hails from Hillsborough, just 12 miles from UNC’s campus in Chapel Hill. In other words, he’d be a true local hero if he chooses to play for the Tar Heels. For a program that prides itself on North Carolina roots, landing Cloer would be a major statement.
Why Cole Cloer Is Perfect for UNC’s System
During a recent interview for the Locked On Tar Heels podcast, college sports analyst Anthony Pagnotta weighed in on why head coach Hubert Davis‘s team should do everything in its power to recruit Cloer, highlighting his tremendous basketball talent.
“This is going to be one of those guys that is a classic catch and shoot type of player,” he said. “A lot of his stuff comes on spot-up shooting. There is some creativity to his game, but he’s not super creative. Pretty explosive as an athlete when he’s in transition. Definitely a guy that can go up and get the basketball.”
Pagnotta’s assessment fits perfectly with what Davis has been building in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels have thrived with versatile wings who can stretch the floor and create mismatches. At 6’7″, Cloer brings the size and shooting ability that translates well to the ACC level.
As expected, Pagnotta didn’t overlook the fact that Cloer was born and raised practically next door to the Tar Heels’ headquarters. In fact, he attached extraordinary importance to it:
“He’s a guy that lives about 10 minutes down the road, and he’s also a guy that shoots the ball at an incredibly high rate,” he said.
“I think this is a crucial one for Carolina because again, you’re talking about literally right in your backyard. There are guys that have come from Raleigh and stuff like that, but this is a guy that is minutes from campus.
“You’ve got to be able to hold on to them. And, you know, I think Carolina’s got a really good chance to be able to do that,” Pagnotta said.
The Competition Heats Up Between UNC, NC State
As discussed during the podcast, Cloer recently narrowed his list of top college programs to eight. UNC is among those, but, unsurprisingly, so are archrivals NC State. The Tobacco Road rivalry adds another layer of intensity to this recruitment battle.
The list is rounded out by Florida, the recent NCAA champion, Alabama, Indiana, Louisville, UConn, and Virginia. Each program brings something different to the table, from championship pedigree to playing time opportunities.
Cloer is an 18-year-old 6’7″ small forward from Hillsborough, North Carolina, who will begin his senior year next September at IMG Academy in Florida. The move to IMG shows Cloer’s commitment to taking his game to the next level against elite competition.
In addition to generating significant attention from the country’s top college programs, Cloer has already received calls from Team USA. That kind of national recognition at the high school level speaks volumes about his potential impact at the college level.
In fact, he was among the players invited to the U19 team’s training camp held a few weeks ago. There, he had the opportunity to compete against other top prospects, such as AJ Dybantsa, Koa Peat, and others.
The experience of playing alongside and against the nation’s best players will only help Cloer’s development as he prepares for his final high school season.
For UNC, losing a player of Cloer’s caliber from their backyard would sting. Davis has made recruiting North Carolina a priority, and landing the state’s top talent sends a message about the program’s direction. With Cloer’s decision looming, the Tar Heels will need to make their case for why staying home makes the most sense for his future.