FSU hoops transfer Matthew Cleveland commits to Miami over Auburn, Missouri
Former Florida State star Matthew Cleveland won’t be part of Auburn’s rebuild for 2023-24.
Cleveland, who was FSU’s leading scorer last season, announced his commitment to Miami on Sunday afternoon. He chose the Hurricanes over Auburn and Missouri, which rounded out his top-three.
The 6-foot-7 wing is a former five-star prospect and native of Atlanta who was recruited by Auburn out of high school before signing with FSU’s 2021 recruiting class. Rated as the No. 25 player in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Cleveland was also considered the seventh-best wing in that cycle coming out of Pace Academy.
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After earning ACC Sixth Man of the Year as a freshman during the 2021-22 season, when he averaged 11.5 point, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game off the bench for the Seminoles, Cleveland was thrust into a leading role for Leonard Hamilton’s team last season. He averaged a team-high 13.8 points per game on 44.5 percent shooting, including a 35 percent clip from 3-point range. Cleveland also averaged 7.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists while starting all 30 games he played in last season. He was one of the few bright spots during an otherwise disappointing season for FSU, which experienced its first losing season since 2004-05.
With Cleveland headed to Miami, and staying within the ACC, Auburn is still in search of a wing as Bruce Pearl retools the Tigers’ roster following a second consecutive second-round NCAA Tournament loss. Auburn has already added three new pieces this offseason in FIU two-guard transfer Denver Jones, UAH forward Chaney Johnson and five-star 2023 guard Aden Holloway. The program saw three players transfer out of the program in freshmen Yohan Traore and Chance Westry, as well as reserve big man Stretch Akingbola, while four more have entered the NBA Draft: point guard Wendell Green Jr., center Johni Broome, forward Jaylin Williams and backup center Dylan Cardwell.
Broome, Williams and Cardwell all retained their eligibility and are likely to return to Auburn next season. Auburn is also awaiting an announcement from starting wing Allen Flanigan, who graduated on Saturday but still has a year of eligibility remaining, though it is not anticipated that he will return to the team for a fifth season.
Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.