By: Eric Fawcett -- June 6, 2025 For most high-major programs like Florida, player acquisition right now is heavily focused on the transfer portal and even international recruiting as teams look to bring in more seasoned players with experience that can help them be more prepared for the moment they set foot on campus. Even though these two avenues are more important than ever, it doesn’t mean that the Gators are ignoring traditional American high school recruiting and we saw that this week when the Gators extended an offer to 2026 target Cole Cloer. Florida Offers Wing Cole Cloer | GatorCountry.com
UF could use another SF or SG for this year to round out the roster. Cole Cloer (2026 class) reads a lot like CJ Ingram in measurements and skills mentioned.
Do we have a real shot with this guy? He sounds perfect for a Todd Golden team but maybe he has long term and deep loyalty to UNC.
Who knows? UNC's head coach is skating on thin ice these days so Cole can't be sure who he'd be playing for there.
We're a hot commodity right now. Everyone's watching the Gators and talking about the Gators. Kids that weren't looking at us as a possible destination before are certainly doing so now.
If we take Golden at his word (unless he now sees an opening he previously did not), this does not appear to be a real target. I seriously doubt he will "sit for a year" so that the real team can "do things". And that also supposes there aren't players signed who expected a certain makeup and role that a signing such as this can easily upset the applecart. So an AJ asks for and is granted out of his scholarship, his brother and the other teammates are okay with this, and we don't lose the ability to sign another developmental player for the upcoming season based on the rules? It feels bizarre, or just Golden messing with the Blue Bloods' minds. Nothing wrong with that.
He wouldn't necessarily be sitting for a year. He's a class of '26 guy, so he would be an addition for '26-'27. Xaivian will be gone. Fland will be gone. 80% chance Haugh will be gone. A.J. Brown will be a senior. Urban, a junior. Ingram and Lloyd, sophomores.
