Michigan Basketball: Will 5-star Matthew Cleveland pick Wolverines?

A five star Michigan basketball target is set to announce his college decision, will it be the Wolverines?

Matthew Cleveland, a five star from Alpharetta, Georgia, is preparing to make his college decision on Tuesday. Michigan basketball is among the finalists, which also includes Florida State, NC State, Kansas, and Stanford.

Cleveland is ranked 15th in the nation, the second-best SG, and No. 2 in-state, according to 247 sports’ internal rankings. Per the composite, Matthew is a four star, 24th in the country, the third-best SG, and No. 2 in-state.

There is no denying Cleveland is one of the best in his class. He’s an elite athlete that would be Michigan’s best recruit for the 2021 class and that’s saying a lot considering the talent level of the third-best class in the country.

If Cleveland were to choose the Wolverines, Michigan basketball would have the No. 1 squad by a long shot, according to the 247 sports class calculator. The squad’s score would be slightly over 63 which is significantly higher than USC’s 57 points.

Will he pick the Wolverines?

All signs point to no. First of all, let’s look at the No. 3 class in the country. Currently, U-M has a Top 100 guard, a top 150 wing, and a top 150 point forward. All of them are ball handlers with a habit of putting the basketball in the net. Cleveland is the same type of player, a dynamic scorer that can take over a game no matter who is defending him.

At this point, all the crystal balls and FutureCasts have Matthew headed to FSU, a team with only one commit. The Seminoles have Bryce McGowens, a four-star shooting guard from Piedmont, South Carolina.

If Matthew becomes a Nole, he will probably switch to the three with Bryce as the more natural two.  If he picks U-M, the floor is open for Cleveland, who is likely a one-and-done type athlete.

Looking long term

Cleveland is a certifiable star and if he’s not done after one, he’s certainly done after two seasons. In 2021, the roster is wide open for the Wolverines, a selling point for Juwan Howard and his staff.

There could be as many as nine scholarships open and the 2021 recruiting class could be headlined by a tremendous scorer in Cleveland, again, another selling point, however, the evidence, predictions, and rumors have him headed to Florida as a Seminole.

There’s still a chance he picks the Wolverines, so pay attention on Tuesday at 3 pm for his decision.

Other recruiting notes

A recruiting guru has spoken and not in favor of the Wolverines. U-M has a well-documented relationship with five star combo-guard Jalen Warley and yet a prediction has him as a Cavalier.

This leaves the door open for 2021 guard Angelo Brizzi, who has NBA range and then some. Warley is still the top PG target, but it seems UVA is in the lead for his services.