University of Miami lands highly coveted Florida State transfer Matthew Cleveland

The University of Miami men’s basketball team finally signed its first transfer of this off-season, and it was a significant one.

Florida State transfer Matthew Cleveland, a 6-7 wing who averaged 13.8 points and 7.4 rebounds last season, announced on Twitter Sunday afternoon that he chose the Hurricanes over his other finalists Auburn and Missouri. He was among the most coveted players in the transfer portal.

“It’s all about the U #Committed,” Cleveland wrote.

Miami fans know Cleveland all too well, as he is the player who broke their hearts when he buried a three-point shot at the buzzer to stun the Hurricanes 85-84 on Feb. 25, capping a 25-point comeback on UM’s home court.

Cleveland has two years of eligibility left.

As a freshman in 2021-22, Cleveland was voted ACC Sixth Man of the Year. This past season, he was a Top 10 Candidate for the Julius Erving Award, presented to the best small forward in the nation.

“We are excited to welcome Matthew and his family to the Hurricane basketball program. He is an accomplished, experienced, versatile individual who has already proven he can excel at a high level in the ACC,” UM coach Jim Larranaga said. “Matthew not only possesses the talent, athleticism and basketball IQ we look for in a player, but his style of play fits our program extremely well. He is committed to winning and we feel he can make a major impact to help us do just that.”

Over his FSU career, Cleveland averaged 12.7 points, six rebounds and shot 44.8 percent from the floor. He was the 25^th-rated prospect and seventh small forward in the Class of 2021. Cleveland improved his three-point shooting from 17.6 percent as a freshman to 35 percent as a sophomore.

Cleveland, an Atlanta native, finished sixth in the ACC in double-doubles (11), seventh in rebounding, seventh in defensive rebounding (6.0) and No. 12 in field-goal percentage in 2022-23. His 10-of-10 free-throw mark at Duke on Dec. 31, 2022, equaled a Florida State record and tied for the third-most makes without a miss in a single game by an ACC player all season.

The Hurricanes are coming off their first Final Four in team history and Cleveland seems a perfect fit as the team restocks for next season.

Larranaga must replace departed starters Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller, both of whom were invited to the NBA Draft Combine May 16-18 in Chicago. Four other UM players transferred, including Harlond Beverly, who signed with Wichita State, and Anthony Walker, who landed with Indiana.

Meanwhile, power forward Norchad Omier and guard Nijel Pack, who were expected to return as UM starters next season, entered their names for consideration in the NBA Draft. They are seeking evaluations from the league on whether they are NBA-ready.

Both players retained their collegiate eligibility by not hiring an agent and have until May 31 to return to the Hurricanes if they so choose.

Omier was invited to the NBA G-League Elite Camp May 13-14 in Chicago and the top performers are invited to the combine. Omier worked out for the Boston Celtics last week, and has workouts scheduled with the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday and the Detroit Pistons Wednesday. Pack was not invited to the G-League camp, and it is not known for which teams he has worked out.

Wong tested the NBA waters two years in a row and came back both times. Kam McGusty also returned for his final UM season after hearing from NBA scouts. Chances are, Omier and Pack will be back with the Canes next season, along with key returning players Bensley Joseph and Wooga Poplar.