All-American Lacrosse Player Commits to Transfer and Play ACC Basketball

Cole Kastner has not played organized basketball in four years, and he is joining an ACC basketball program.

Kastner, a national champion lacrosse player, has joined the Cardinal to play hoops after spending the last four years as a captain for the University of Virginia’s lacrosse squad.

“Although he has not played basketball competitively during the last four years, he has been a vital cog for Virginia’s lacrosse program. He knows what it takes to win a National Championship, and he understands leadership as he was a captain there as well,” said Stanford head coach Kyle Smith. “We are thrilled for Cole to bring his winning ways back to the Farm.”

Kastner was a fourth-round selection in this year’s Premier Lacrosse League Draft, but has opted to take the college hoops route. He starred for The Menlo School in high school on the hardwood, posting averages of 17 points and ten rebounds per game there. He then went on to a national champion’s career at Virginia, while individually earning third place all-time in Virginia program history for causing 95 opponent turnovers. Kastner was a defender in lacrosse.

This situation has not been totally uncommon. Former Loyola (MD) lacrosse star Pat Spencer made the switch from lacrosse to hoops years ago, transferring to Northwestern and later playing for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. In addition, elsewhere in the ACC, former Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner has had an interesting college career. After playing quarterback for Notre Dame in 2022, he transferred to Alabama to play QB there. This past spring, he transferred back to Notre Dame to play lacrosse. Now, heading into summer football again, Buchner has rejoined the football team as a wide receiver.