Michigan State Offers Son of Spartan Legend

Cleaves Jr. recently transferred from Orchard Lake St. Mary's to Dream City Christian in Glendale, Arizona.

The prospect still has a lot of basketball to play before he reaches the collegiate level, and there's a lot of development yet to be made. But by the time he enrolls at his college of choice, he could be one of the top recruits in his country, just as his father was.

Cleaves Sr.'s collegiate career

Cleaves Sr., who was a star at Flint Northern High School, was a McDonald's All-American and one of Izzo's first big-time recruits. A freshman during Izzo's second season at the helm, he was instrumental to the legendary coach's rise, helping lead the Spartans to three consecutive regular-season Big Ten titles, back-to-back conference tournament titles and back-to-back Final Four appearances, the second, of course, resulting in Izzo's lone title.

Cleaves Sr. was named the Most Outstanding Player of that 2000 NCAA Tournament, capping off a legendary career that included two Big Ten Player of the Year awards, three consensus All-American honors, a Big Ten Tournament MVP award and the Big Ten's all-time assist crown, a record that has since been passed by fellow Spartan legend Cassius Winston.

With Izzo approaching the final chapter of his illustrious coaching career, what a storybook ending it would be if he got to coach the son of the player he is most synonymous with. Let alone if they were able to win a national title together, just as Izzo and his father did all those years ago.