Another big-time transfer portal target for Michigan Basketball

Michigan basketball has made contact with former 5-star Matthew Cleveland, who just entered the transfer portal. 

When it comes to the wishlist for Michigan basketball in the transfer portal, the Wolverines just got a new No. 1 and that’s Matthew Cleveland.

Cleveland was a five-star prospect in the 2021 class and Michigan basketball ended up as one of the runner-ups to Florida State. The Seminoles had a rough season in 2022-23 and the wing was a surprise entry to the transfer portal on Tuesday night. He was their leading scorer and averaged 13.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. He also shot 35 percent from 3-point range.

A bunch of programs have reached out to Cleveland already and Michigan basketball is one of them. The Wolverines don’t have any open scholarships right now but it seems like there is a chance U-M could add one or two more players. Hunter Dickinson could still return too.

The news that Michigan has contracted Cleveland comes on the heels of Michigan basketball holding a Zoom call earlier this week with former Tennessee forward Olivier Nkamhoua.

Nkamhoua would be a really solid addition too. He averaged 10.8 points and more than five rebounds last season for Tennessee and shot 36 percent from 3-point range. He’s also got some low-post game and could step in as a starting four.

You wonder if the pursuit of Cleveland impacts Nkamhoua but frankly, if Dickinson doesn’t come back, there’s no reason Michigan basketball shouldn’t add both.

Michigan basketball isn’t done in the transfer portal

There would need to be some roster attrition but that sort of thing always seems to work. Cleveland and Nkamhoua would be a great tandem to have at the 3/4 spots for Michigan basketball to pair with Tarris Reed, Caleb Love, and Dug McDaniel.

It seemed like a decision by Nkamhoua could come soon and I’m watching out for that. Yet, you just don’t know how Cleveland will impact things although my sense of it is that it won’t.

Even as the Wolverines were pushing for the 6-foot-8 forward, they were also making a strong push for Harrison Ingram via Jamie Shaw of On3.com. North Carolina recently got a crystal ball so it doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen. It’s also why a pivot to Cleveland makes sense.

Beyond that, it leads me to believe that Cleveland and Nkamhoua could both join Michigan basketball. It doesn’t feel at all like it’s one or the other. But that could change and a decision from Dickinson could throw a wrench into everything if he decided he wanted to come back.

It should also be mentioned that Michigan reached out to Syracuse transfer Jesse Edwards, another talented big man. Edwards is a 6-foot-11 center and a walking double-double. He averaged 14.5 points and 10.3 rebounds last season, in addition to 2.7 blocks per game.

Obviously, there are plenty of teams involved but it’s another name to know, although personally, I would be interested to see what Tarris Reed could do in a starting role, especially if you can land big-time talents as the three and four.

If Michigan is going to add anyone to this roster, it should be someone who can be a no-doubt starter or at least someone with a defined role. Cleveland and Nkamhoua seem like day-one starters and here’s hoping Michigan basketball gets both.