Michigan named school to watch for elite wing transfer prospect

Michigan basketball is still in the mix for Florida State transfer wing Matthew Cleveland (6-7, 200 pounds) and might just be a threat to ultimately land the former Seminole.

Cleveland, who is On3’s 22nd-best transfer portal prospect, started all 30 games for Florida State this season. He averaged 13.8 points per game, 7.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He shot 44.5% from the floor and 35% from three-point range on the season (21-of-60). The former No. 25 overall recruit in the 2021 class would have two years of eligibility remaining at his next step.

According to On3’s Jamie Shaw, Michigan remains in the mix as one of the schools to watch for Cleveland’s services.

“Things have been somewhat quiet around Cleveland’s recruitment,” Shaw wrote. “Sources say four schools to watch for in the former five-star prospect’s recruitment are Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, and Miami. I am told that visits should be happening soon, and I am hearing there is room for a fifth school to work its way in, but things could also stay here. Watch to see which visits are set, which are taken, and monitor the timeline.”

Florida State, Kansas, Michigan, NC State, and Stanford were Cleveland’s final five schools coming out of high school, so there is an existing relationship with the Wolverine staff. Other schools in the mix this time around include Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Miami, Missouri, NC State, Pitt, SMU, Texas, Texas A&M, USF, Wake Forest and Wichita State.

The Wolverines are sitting at 12 of 13 scholarships next season after the departures of freshman wing Jett Howard (NBA Draft), sophomore guard Kobe Bufkin (NBA Draft), junior center Hunter Dickinson and sophomore guard Isaiah Barnes (transfer portal) and prospective freshman Papa Kante (released from NLI), and the additions of Nimari Burnett, Caleb Love and Tray Jackson. Given the program’s continued activity, there could still be some movement to come.

There is optimism about Llewellyn’s return for a sixth season, so we still have him included on our scholarship chart. The roster remains fluid and will continue to be sorted out over the next several weeks.

A potential addition of Cleveland would put him in the driver’s seat to earn a starting job with the Wolverines. Outside of sophomores Dug McDaniel (point guard) and Tarris Reed (center) and senior Caleb Love (shooting guard), there will be plenty of competition next year.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire.