STANFORD, Calif. – One of the top players in collegiate lacrosse over the past four seasons will compete for Stanford on the hardwood in 2024-25. Cole Kastner has joined the Cardinal as the program’s fifth transfer addition of the offseason.
“Cole is a local kid from Menlo who grew up rooting for the Card. He is a tremendous athlete that will bring an enthusiastic spirit to practice everyday,” said Kyle Smith, the Anne and Tony Joseph Director of Men’s Basketball.
Kastner was a two-time USILA second team All-American at Virginia with the lacrosse program in 2022 and 2024, while also earning honorable mention All-America honors in 2023, and he was also an Inside Lacrosse second team All-American and USA Lacrosse Third Team All-American in 2024. He was a two-time nominee for the Tewaaraton Award (2022, 2024), which is given to the top player nationally in college lacrosse.
“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,” continued Smith. “We are thrilled for Cole to bring his winning ways back to the Farm.”
Kastner appeared in 69 games over his four year career at defense for Virginia, scoring four goals with two assists while collecting 119 ground balls and causing 95 turnovers, which ranks third all-time in Virginia history. He helped the Cavaliers to the 2021 NCAA Championship and was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 Premier Lacrosse League Draft by the California Redwoods.
A skilled player on the basketball court, Kastner attended nearby Menlo School where he was a three-year starter at forward. He was an all-state second team selection after averaging 17 points, 10 rebounds and three assists per game as a senior.
Kastner follows in the footsteps of previous college lacrosse players to use their final year of eligibility in basketball, most notably joining Golden State Warriors guard Pat Spencer, who played lacrosse at Loyola (MD) before using his fifth season in basketball at Northwestern.