So... there's good news, and then there's potentially bad news.
We'd ask which news you'd like first, but it's certain that there would be mixed responses.
Let's just start with the good news.
Highly-coveted Class of 2026 talent Cole Cloer has scheduled an official visit to North Carolina. The news surfaced from Jacob Polacheck's report for On3's Kentucky Sports Radio.
Wait a minute... did you say... Kentucky?!
Yes, that's part of the bad news.
After revealing a list of eight finalists, two notable programs, Kentucky and Arkansas, swooped in with offers for the Hillsborough, North Carolina native. Neither program was on the initial list of finalists, but both have earned the opportunity to host the rising senior who recently transferred to IMG Academy.
Here's a look at Cloer's official visit schedule (with more potentially on the way):
NC State (August 29-31)
Florida (September 5-7)
Kentucky (September 17-18)
North Carolina (October 10-12)
Alabama (October 17-19)
UConn (TBD)
Arkansas (TBD)
Of course, it's great that Cloer, who previously made an unofficial visit to Chapel Hill, will take an official visit to the UNC basketball program over three days in October. The concerning side of it is how Kentucky and Arkansas have jumped their way into the mix, adding two more contenders for Cloer's services.
How will their late arrival to the party impact the rest of Cloer's recruitment?
The UNC basketball program must put on a full-court press to get Cloer to Chapel Hill. The competition will be steep, but Hubert Davis and his staff must do everything in their power to demonstrate to Cloer that he is a top priority, proving to him that North Carolina can help him achieve his future goals.
Buckle up: this recruitment has the makings of being a full-out battle between the programs still in the mix.