Former MSU guard Mateen Cleaves drives against University of Mississippi Jason Harrison in the second half of MSU's 74-66 victory in their NCAA Tournament Second Round Game at the Bradley center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Sunday, Mar 14. 1999. Msu 031499 Cleaves Drives J Julian H. Gonzalez, Detroit Free Press via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Watch: MSU Legend Mateen Cleaves' Son Shines at Nike Elite 100

Originally posted on Michigan State Spartans on SI
By Aidan Champion | Last updated Jun 20, 2025 5:35 PM ET

Mateen Cleaves Jr., son of Michigan State legend and national champion, Mateen Cleaves, is gaining national attention.

Cleaves Jr., who just picked up an offer from Rutgers, was a standout at this week's Nike Elite 100 Camp at St. Louis University.

Below is a highlight tape, posted by Mikey Wolford, special assistant to the president of the Nike EYBL team, The Family.

2028 PG Mateen Cleaves Jr. (6-4) was making things happen all week at the Nike Elite 100 Camp.

He helped lead Team Miami to the championship, and finished the week with the highest A:TO ratio in the whole camp (min. 35 possessions).

Check out his tape from the week‼️ pic.twitter.com/1ssXijgeW2
— Mikey Wolford ⚠️ (@mikeywolford) June 19, 2025

According to Wolford, Cleaves Jr. led all camp participants in assist-to-turnover ratio on a minimum of 35 possessions played.

The class of 2028 6-4 shooting guard and his team, Team Miami, made it to the tournament title game, where they lost to Team Denver, 42-35.

Cleaves Jr. plays for Orchard Lake St. Mary's in Orchard Lake, Michigan.

Spartan fans have to be giddy with the thought of the son of one of the most iconic figures to ever come through Tom Izzo's program potentially following in his father's footsteps and someday donning the Green and White.

If it were to happen, it would be almost 30 years since his father and that memorable 2000 team won the program's second national title. One has to wonder if Izzo would still be at the helm, though.

Mateen Cleaves, the Spartan legend, spent four seasons at Michigan State and helped lay the foundation of what Izzo would build during his time as the Spartans' head man.

Cleaves helped lead the Spartans to back-to-back Final Four appearances and became the Big Ten's all-time leader in assists, a record that was broken in 2020 by fellow Spartan great Cassius Winston.

He went won the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Award in that title run. Cleaves was also a two-time Big Ten Player of the Year and three-time consensus All-American.

He would go on to be drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the 14th overall pick of the 2000 NBA Draft and would play six seasons at the next level. He only made 10 starts in his NBA career.

Izzo already had success with a legacy in Jase Richardson. Perhaps he will have that again someday with Cleaves Jr.

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