NOTRE DAME (2025-26)
- Played in all 31 games, which included 16 starts. Averaged 12.8 ppg.
- Received votes for ACC’s Most Improved Player – Certa went from averaging 2.5 points in 2024-25 to 16.1 points during ACC play in 2025-26. That number ranked 16th overall in the league.
- Ended the season on a career best nine-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, five of 20+, and three with 30 or more. Led the Irish in scoring seven times.
- Three 30+ point games since Jan. 27. His three 30-point outings in ACC play trailed only Ebuka Okorie’s four. In fact, Certa owned the third and fifth 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-for-3 from three, 3-for-4 from free throw line in the OT period. Certa finished with 32 points, draining 6-for-10 from three.
- Career-high 37 points in the win over Georgia Tech on Feb. 14. Certa’s 37 tied for the second-most in an ACC contest for Notre Dame (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-for-11.
- Exploded for 34 points vs. No. 17 Virginia on Jan. 27. Certa was 10-for-19 from the field, 5-for-13 from three and 9-for-11 from the free throw 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 North Carolina
- Certa finished 91-for-102 from the free-throw line. His 89.2 percent led all ACC players; also ranked third for a season all-time at Notre Dame.
- His 2.9 made threes per game in league play ranked second. Certa was 35.3% from three in ACC play, which ranked sixth.
- Had 16.6 points per game against ranked opposition this year – team best.
- Certa was best from the corner where he was 43.9% from three (25-for-57).
- Other ACC games in double figures before his Virginia points explosion – 16 points behind three triples at Cal and 14 points at Virginia Tech.
- Lightning in a bottle in the second half against TCU. Certa drained four consecutive 3-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 struck again at the end of the Missouri (12/2) win. Certa drained three triples in the last 4:35 of the game, including the game-winner with 17 seconds left. Certa finished with 14 points on 4-for-7 shooting from three.
- Hit a pair of threes against No. 2 Houston, finishing with 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.
- Player of the Game in the opening win over LIU, going off for 22 points. He drained 6-for-9 from 3-point range.
NOTRE DAME (2024-25)
- Played in 18-of-33 games & averaged 8.0 min per contest.
- 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 three 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 net.
- 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.
HIGH SCHOOL
- 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