Unexpected Twist: Blue-Chip Small Forward Cole Cloer Abruptly Cancels Crucial North Carolina Visit

The North Carolina Tar Heels have long been a powerhouse when it comes to attracting top-tier basketball talent, consistently showcasing elite recruits at the iconic Dean Smith Center. Yet, the 2026 recruiting cycle is starting off with a bump in the road. Just recently, one of their highly-touted prospects, 4-star small forward Cole Cloer—ranked No. 27 nationally and the 12th best at his position—decided to cancel his much-anticipated visit to Chapel Hill. Cloer’s name has been in the mix all season, with the Tar Heels making his final five alongside programs like UConn, NC State, Florida, and Alabama, signaling a tough battle for his commitment. Although UNC hasn’t locked in any pledges for ’26 yet, they’re hustling hard—welcoming top talents such as 5-star Bryson Howard and 4-star Cameron Holmes, with more visits on the docket. The road ahead is uncertain, but one thing’s for sure: the Tar Heels aren’t backing down anytime soon. LEARN MORE

Year after year, the North Carolina Tar Heels have no trouble bringing in some of the top recruits in the nation, putting a top product on the court at the Dean Smith Center. However, they suffered a setback in the 2026 recruiting class, with one of their top targets canceling his visit to Chapel Hill.

On Wednesday, it was reported by 247Sports that 4-star small forward Cole Cloer will not be taking a trip to North Carolina this weekend. Cloer is rated as the No. 27 player in the 2026 class and the No. 12 small forward in the nation.

Cloer has been considering the Tar Heels throughout his recruitment, and he named Hubert Davis’ squad as one of his five finalists less than a week ago, putting them alongside the UConn Huskies, NC State Wolfpack, Florida Gators, and Alabama Crimson Tide.

Currently, North Carolina has no commitments in the 2026 class. Still, they are remaining active on the recruiting trail, hosting players like 5-star SF Bryson Howard earlier in September, and 4-star SF Cameron Holmes a couple of weeks ago. The Tar Heels are also scheduled to host 4-star SF Maximo Adams at the end of October.

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