#5 Cole Certa 2024-25 Men's Basketball Roster

AS A SOPHOMORE (2025-26)

• Played in all 31 games, which included 16 starts. Averaged 12.8 ppg.
• Received votes for ACC’s Most Improved Player – Cole went from averaging 2.5 points last season to 16.1 points during ACC play this year. That number ranked 16th overall in the league.
• Ended the season on a career best 9 straight games in double figures. Certa averaged a team-best 19.3 ppg during that span, shooting 38.6% from the field, 37.2% from three, and 31-37 from the free-throw line.
• 17 games in double figures, 5 of 20+, and 3 with 30 or more. Led the Irish in scoring 7 times.
• Three 30+ point games since Jan. 27. His three 30-burgers in ACC play trailed only Ebuka Okorie’s 4. In fact, Cole owned the 3rd and 5th highest scoring performances in league play with his 37 and 34 points.
• Had the 4th highest scoring average amongst ACC players in February: Ebuka Okorie (25.6), Juke Harris (22.9), Mikel Brown Jr (21.1), Cole Certa (21.0) & Cameron Boozer (20.0). Certa also converted 30 triples in February, which led the league that month.
• Lifted Irish to a 96-90 overtime win vs. NC State on Feb. 28. Scored 12 of the team’s 15 overtime points, going 3-3 from three, 3-4 from FT line, in the OT period. Certa finished with 32 points, draining 6-10 from three.
• Career high 37 points in the win over Georgia Tech on Feb. 14. Certa’s 37 tied for the 2nd most in an ACC contest (Matt Farrell’s 37 vs Boston College), trailing just Markus Burton’s 43 points vs. Cal (4OT). Certa drained a career best 7 three-pointers, finishing 7-11.
• Exploded for 34 points vs. #17 Virginia on Jan. 27. Certa was 10-19 from the field, 5-13 from three & 9-11 from the FT line. Certa’s 34 points were the most by a Notre Dame player against an AP-ranked team since Nov. 26, 2008, when Kyle McAlarney scored 39 in a loss to No. 1 UNC.
• Certa finished 91-102 from the free-throw line. His 89.2% led all ACC players; also ranked 3rd for a season all-time at ND.
• His 2.9 made threes per game in league play ranked 2nd. Certa was 35.3% from three in ACC play, which ranked 6th.
• 16.6 ppg against ranked opposition this year – team best.
• Certa was best from the corner where he was 43.9% from three (25-57).
• Other ACC games in double figures before his Virginia points explosion – 16 points behind three triples at Cal // 14 points at Virginia Tech.
• Lightning in a bottle in the second half of TCU. Certa drained four consecutive three-pointers to start the second half and eventually hit five in the half and six total in the game. Certa finished with a co-team best 20 points.
• Certa-fied bucket struck again at the end of the Missouri (12/2) win. Cole drained three triples in the last 4:35 of the game, including the game-winner with 17 seconds left. Cole finished with 14 points on 4-7 shooting from three.
• Hit a pair of threes against #2 Houston, finishing with 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist & 1 steal.
• Player of the Game in the opening win over LIU, going off for 22 points. He drained 6-9 from three-point range.

AS A FRESHMAN (2024-25)

• Played in 18-of-33 games & averaged 8.0 min.
• Averaged 2.0 points on 30.0 percent shooting.
• Converted two clutch free throws with four seconds left in the 112-110 4OT win over Cal.
• Another hero moment for Certa vs. Stanford on March 5. Down one with 18 seconds left, Certa drained a corner three right in front his bench for the eventual 56-54 win.
• Tallied 8 points over 12 minutes at Wake Forest on March 1. Certa was 2-5 from beyond the arc.
• Feb. 22 – a 76-72 win over Pitt – forever be known as the Cole Certa game. Certa recorded all 12 of his points in the 2nd half but it all stemmed from a 125-second period in which he drained 3 triples.
• Had one of the most incredible threes of the season at BC on Feb. 12 as his near half-court heave found nothing but.
• Saw game action for the first time in over a month at Florida State (2/4). Played in back-to-back games with time vs. Virginia Tech (2/8), scoring a basket in the final minute.
• Earned his first collegiate points and first three in win over Le Moyne on Dec. 22. Finished with 5 points.

PREP CAREER

• Ranked 89th overall in the country by ESPN and 90th by 247 Sports.
• Spent his senior year at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
• Averaged 8.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 21.0 minutes as a senior.
• Helped IMG achieve a 20-9 overall record, losing to St. Paul VI Catholic High School, 101-89, in the first round of the Chipotle Nationals.
• Made 110 3-pointers and shot 42 percent.
• 2024 McDonald’s All-American Games Nominee
• Spent his first three years of high school at Bloomington Central Catholic in Illinois.
• As a junior, Certa led the Saints to a 26-12 record and Illinois Class 2A runner-up finish.
• Earned First Team All-State honors after averaging 26.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Certa also knocked down 115 triples during his junior campaign.
• Played on the Illinois Wolves as part of the Under Armour Elite 24 event.
• A four-star prospect ranked 74th overall by 247Sports and 89th by ESPN