The first offer from the UNC basketball program to the Class of 2026 goes to...

The UNC basketball program has been heavily recruiting the Class of 2025, as four players from this graduating class received scholarship offers from the Tar Heels following this past weekend's open recruiting period.

While the focus has been primarily on next year's graduating class, the Tar Heels have also tapped into the Class of 2026 as well.

The first player that Hubert Davis and the UNC basketball program have elected to extended an offer to is Cole Cloer, a 6-foot-6 forward from Hillsborough, North Carolina.

Cloer announced his offer from the Tar Heels on social media, as it's been expected that this offer would eventually come. The UNC basketball program has been active in recruiting him for essentially the last year, as the rising junior has made a few trips to visit the Chapel Hill campus, which isn't very far from his hometown.

It isn't a coincidence that he is the No. 1-ranked player in the state of North Carolina and currently the No. 18-ranked player in the Class of 2026 (according to 247Sports). Cloer has continued to develop his overall game as his ability to shoot the basketball at an elite level is something that will be enticing for college programs across the country.

Sure, Cloer has earned a reputation as a knockdown shooter, but he also possesses a high basketball IQ. He's a player that is typically regarded as a wing but can also fill the "big guard" role nicely, as he's more than capable of defending multiple positions and isn't afraid to battle for rebounds.

The UNC basketball program has done its homework on this particular recruit, as they have officially thrown their hat in the ring by extending an official offer. For a kid who grew up in the North Carolina area, the potential of continuing his collegiate career at one of the highest stages in the sport while playing extremely close to home could be very enticing to him as he explores potential options for his future home.