NC State early enrollee Cole Cloer to enter transfer portal, leaves open possible return

The first NC State transfer portal announcement since Will Wade’s departure for LSU has arrived. Freshman wing Cole Cloer, who enrolled early for the spring semester, will explore his options, he announced via social media Friday afternoon.

Cloer, who was the No. 59 overall player in the Class of 2027 before joining the program early due to a knee injury that caused him to miss his senior season, did leave a possibility to return to NC State on the table. He has four seasons of eligibility remaining.

“I committed to NC State in October and have been preparing with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming season. With the news of Coach Wade’s departure, I have decided to enter the transfer portal,” Cloer wrote. “Thank you to the City of Raleigh and the entire NC State community for welcoming me with open arms. I love North Carolina and Wolfpack Nation!”

Although he will enter the portal when it opens, which set for Saturday (but likely Monday as the first business day), Cloer was one of just three current NC State players to attend Justin Gainey’s introductory press conference Wednesday afternoon at the Lenovo Center. He was joined by the two redshirting freshmen from this past season: Mikey Wilkins and Jayme Kontuniemi.

The Hillsborough, N.C., native wasn’t on the active roster for the second semester, but he used that time to rehab and is fully healthy going into the summer workout schedule at the collegiate level.

Cloer, who committed to NC State over Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and UConn last 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 felt like the Wolfpack could provide everything he needed to be successful when he picked the program.

“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 ahead of his senior season.