While football season is in full swing, Mark Pope and the Kentucky basketball staff are hard at work building the future. Their latest target is one of the premier shooters in the 2026 class, 5-star small forward Caleb Cloer, who has scheduled an official visit to Lexington for September 17-18.
Cloer, a 6-foot-7 wing from North Carolina, is ranked as the No. 30 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite®. He’s considered a consensus 5-star talent with a skill set that fits perfectly into Pope’s modern, high-powered offense.
What makes Cloer an elite prospect?
Top 25 prospect, Cole Cloer, is such a baller
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) July 28, 2025
Cloer says his Goal is the NBA and he will he choosing the best school to help him get there
The 6’8’wing is versatile and can really shoot the ball
Gets better every time we watch him play
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According to 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein, Cloer’s shooting is what sets him apart.
"Cloer is a big-time shooter... who also possesses good wing size and bounce at the rim," Finkelstein writes. "He has a high and compact release... and is a threat to make all different types of shots... Most of all, he has that outward confidence and swagger that almost all great shot-makers share."
Finkelstein notes that Cloer excels in spot-up situations—knocking down 43% of those looks in EYBL play—but can also hit shots off the dribble and on the move. He’s more than just a shooter, possessing the size and athleticism to finish at the rim and the court vision to act as a solid ball mover.
Can Pope pull off the upset?
Kentucky enters this recruitment with ground to make up. UNC is considered the current favorite to land the home-state star. However, getting a player on campus for an official visit is a massive step. As the saying goes, it isn’t over until a player is signed and on campus.
Mark Pope has already demonstrated his ability to close the deal with recruits once they are in Lexington, as he did with Braydon Hawthorne. The upcoming visit gives Pope and his staff the opportunity to make a powerful impression and potentially land the first cornerstone of their 2026 recruiting class.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time, he spends time with his family, and watching Premier League soccer. #UpTheAlbion