Michigan’s push for Devin Cleveland came up short Friday night, leaving the Wolverines without the backcourt addition they were hoping to pair with Lucai Anderson.
Cleveland, a 4-star guard, had Michigan among his final three schools, and the Wolverines entered the night believing they had a real shot. Rivals’ Recruiting Prediction Machine gave Michigan a 38 percent chance to land him, with Missouri right behind. In the end, though, Cleveland chose Missouri and closed the door on what Michigan had viewed as an important recruiting win for the 2027 class.
The loss stings because Cleveland fit the profile Michigan was chasing: a guard with the chance to make an immediate impact. With the Wolverines’ backcourt potentially changing dramatically by the end of the 2027 season, adding another talented piece beside Anderson would have given the program a cleaner path forward.
Cleveland had been watching Michigan closely last season, and after the national championship, the Wolverines seemed to be in strong position. But the program’s recent upheaval changed the picture. Dusty May’s move to coach the Dallas Mavericks created uncertainty, and that uncertainty lingered when Michigan hired Mike Boynton Jr. to replace him.
Boynton Jr.’s contract situation is well documented, and the source material frames him as possibly only a short-term answer for the program. That instability opened the door for other schools to stay in the mix.
Before his decision, Cleveland made clear he was paying attention to those changes. “I know there been coaching changes recently but Coach Akeem [Miskdeen] - another Chicago guy who I’ve been building a connection for the past three years - reached out to reassure me that they are still confident in the coaching staff and the team’s ability to compete at the highest level,” Cleveland told Rivals prior to his commitment date.
“I’m looking forward to building a connection with Coach (Mike) Boynton and seeing how my game can fit into what they’re building. I’ll be watching his play style throughout the season.”
Michigan now turns back to the board for the 2027 cycle, while Missouri gets the guard commitment the Wolverines were hoping to secure.
For now, Michigan’s 2026 backcourt picture still looks solid. Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney are expected to lead the way this season.
But beyond that, the questions start to pile up. Both players have eligibility after this year, yet both could be NBA-bound if they deliver the kind of season Michigan expects.
That’s why Cleveland mattered. He was the kind of freshman who could have stepped in right away and helped stabilize the future. Instead, Michigan is left regrouping after missing on one of its top backcourt targets.
In Other News...
Michigans Offensive Line Just Became A Real Penn State Concern
Michigans injury report ahead of the Penn State game added another layer of intrigue to a matchup already heavy on physicality. The Wolverines list of players out, doubtful and questionable grew, with the biggest concern centered on the offensive line, where health has been a recurring issue and depth has become part of the conversation.
Jake Guarnera and Brady Norton were both listed as questionable, which means Michigan could be looking at more lineup shuffling up front depending on how things develop closer to kickoff. There is some precedent for that uncertainty, too, since players listed as questionable in earlier games, including Dom Nichols and John Henry Daley, still ended up taking the field. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan May Need More From Elliot Cadeau Than Just Playmaking
Elliot Cadeau arrived at Michigan with the reputation of a dynamic point guard, but this new roster may ask for more than just the usual table-setting. In an exhibition against Eastern Michigan, the senior showed exactly why he can matter in different ways, finishing with a game-high seven rebounds and three steals while still handing out eight assists, even as his shot wasnt at its best.
For Cadeau, the offseason emphasis on defense is starting to show up in the box score as much as the playmaking has long been expected to. Mike Boynton Jr. has pointed to that defensive growth as a key part of Cadeaus adjustment, and with Michigan reshaping around him, the Wolverines may need that all-around impact to keep the offense steady while the rest of the rotation settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Gets A Different Penn State Test Than Anyone Expected
Penn State came into the season looking like a College Football Playoff contender under new coach Matt Campbell, with enough continuity in the staff and roster to make that a reasonable expectation. Instead, Michigan is getting a version of the Nittany Lions that has struggled to hold up against the schedule in front of it, a team that has lost three straight and has not looked much like the steady, physical group many thought it would be at this point.
The most recent slide has included a late loss to Wisconsin, a lopsided defeat at Northwestern and a setback against USC, with the Northwestern game standing out for how little Penn State could do against a strong rushing attack. Multi-score losses have not been common for the program in recent seasons, which makes this weeks matchup with Michigan feel like a different kind of test than expected, even if the name on the helmet still carries plenty of weight. [Read more 🡒]