Tom Izzo keeps circling back to a familiar formula in East Lansing: recruit the sons of Michigan State greats and let the family ties do some of the talking.
The latest name on that list is Mateen Cleaves Jr., the son of former Spartan star Mateen Cleaves. Izzo was on hand last week at the Nike Peach Jam to see him in person, a clear sign that Michigan State is staying active in the chase.
Cleaves Jr. is already drawing plenty of attention for his game. According to 247Sports, he is the No. 5 point guard in the nation and the No. 37 player overall in the 2028 class. That fits right into the way Izzo has attacked the point guard spot, with multiple high-level offers already out in the 2027 cycle.
The interest in Cleaves Jr. has not been limited to Izzo. Other Spartan names showed up in the crowd during Nike EYBL action this summer in Las Vegas, where Zach Randolph and Plaxico Burress were also there to watch. In that game, Cleaves Jr. put up 23 points on 8-for-12 shooting and added seven assists.
At the moment, Cleaves Jr. has three offers, and all of them come from Big Ten programs. Michigan State is in the mix, along with Michigan and Rutgers. The four-star guard is from Orchard Lake, Michigan, but he currently plays at Dream City Christian in Glendale, Arizona.
The pull of the Cleaves name is obvious in East Lansing. Mateen Cleaves was a four-year standout for the Spartans, helped lead the 2000 National Championship team, and capped that season with his third straight All-American selection.
As a junior, he was a First Team All-American after averaging 11.7 points and a conference-best 7.2 assists per game. He finished his Michigan State career with a national title, three All-Big Ten selections, and two Big Ten Player of the Year awards.
Izzo’s interest in legacy recruits is not new, either. In 2024-25, Michigan State had Jason Richardson’s son, Jase Richardson, on the roster, and he went on to become an All-Big Ten standout before being selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Izzo is also recruiting Kingston Thomas, the son of David Thomas, in the 2027 class.
The Spartans’ backcourt board is already crowded with other 2027 targets, including Joshua Tyson, Jaxson Davis, and Antonio Pemberton. But Cleaves Jr. appears to be near the top of the list as Michigan State continues prioritizing the point guard position in the classes ahead.
In Other News...
Michigan Just Took A Costly QB Recruiting Hit For 2028
Michigans 2027 class is already in good shape, but the staff has shifted some attention to the 2028 quarterback board, where the early stakes are starting to get real. That matters because the Wolverines have been trying to stay ahead of the curve at the most important position on the field, and the first signs of how that cycle could unfold are already forcing some recalibration.
Lukas Prock had been one of the names Michigan could point to as a potential fit, which made his recent decision a meaningful swing in the recruiting picture. With that path now closed, the Wolverines are left sorting through a different group of targets and trying to determine which arm they can realistically move on before the board thins out further. [Read more 🡒]
These 3 Buckeyes Still Make Michigan Fans Absolutely Sick
Some names in the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry linger longer than others, and J.T. Barrett is one of the ones Wolverines fans never quite shake. He was the steady hand in the Buckeyes' run of success against Michigan, the quarterback who kept stacking wins in a series where every mistake gets remembered, and every calm drive seems to land a little harder in Ann Arbor. Troy Smith belongs in that same bucket, too, with a rsum built on big moments against Michigan and the kind of leadership Ohio State fans still point to when they talk about the rivalry at its most intense.
Maurice Clarett is different, but no less aggravating for Michigan followers. His Ohio State career was tied to the Buckeyes' 2002 championship season, and his lone game against Michigan left a mark because he was so central to the result. Even beyond the field, his name still carries the baggage of the controversies that followed, which only adds another layer to why his brief but memorable run against the Wolverines remains such a sore spot. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Is Already Pushing Hard For A Quarterback Fans Will Watch Closely
Michigans quarterback board already has a name drawing plenty of attention, and Kaden Craft is right near the top of it. The North Carolina prospect has become a priority target for the Wolverines, with offensive coordinator Jason Beck and quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer Jr. both heavily involved in his recruitment as Michigan looks for a passer who fits its offensive direction.
Crafts size and playmaking ability have made him an appealing fit, and the Wolverines are far from alone in the chase. Maryland, NC State, Georgia, Florida State and Miami are all in the mix, but Michigan has made a strong early push, helped by a recent multi-day visit to Ann Arbor that gave Craft extended time with Beck and Detmer Jr. and left the staff with plenty to build on. [Read more 🡒]