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Top North Carolina Recruit Pits NC State Basketball Against Heels

Originally posted on NC State Wolfpack on SI
By Matt Giles | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 4:41 PM ET

NC State basketball target Cole Cloer is now down to a top eight in his recruitment, On3's Joe Tipton reported on Thursday afternoon. And Will Wade's Wolfpack survived the cut for the 6-foot-8 four-star forward from Hillsborough, N.C.

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Cloer, who transferred to Caldwell Academy in Greensboro last year and now sits at No. 32 overall on the 247Sports 2026 Composite, also listed the Wolfpack's nearby rival, UNC, along with Indiana, Louisville, Virginia, Alabama, UConn, and reigning national champion Florida.

NEWS: 2026 Top-30 overall recruit Cole Cloer is down to eight schools, he tells @Rivals.

The 6-8 rising senior is one of the top wings in the country.https://t.co/9z2l7QrnhQ pic.twitter.com/8KkaL7joaZ
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) July 3, 2025

Wade and his staff welcomed Cloer to campus for an unofficial visit just last week, marking the first time the high-powered NC State basketball recruiters had the chance to chat with the versatile talent in person.

For now, the only two reported scheduled official visits for Cloer's senior year are to Alabama and Florida in the fall.

Meanwhile, Will Wade & Co.'s 2026 Wolfpack offer sheet hasn't produced a pledge for the first-year NC State head coach just yet. But the crew remains a contender in several high-profile races, including in the battle for Cole Cloer, who first received an offer from the program in Raleigh when Kevin Keatts was at the helm.

This article first appeared on NC State Wolfpack on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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