UM basketball team awaits decision from FSU transfer Matthew Cleveland, Walker to IU
March Madness has carried over to May Madness for University of Miami men’s basketball coach Jim Larranaga and his staff.
Four weeks after the Hurricanes reached their first Final Four in school history, the coaching staff is sifting through 1,400 players in the transfer portal to find a couple of prospects who fit the team’s needs and culture to help restock the roster for next season.
Florida State transfer Matthew Cleveland, a 6-7 shooting guard who averaged 13.8 points and 7.4 rebounds last season, narrowed his list to three schools last week and Miami made the cut, along with Auburn and Missouri. He visited UM a few weeks ago and Auburn last weekend, posting photos of both visits on his Instagram account. Cleveland is expected to make his decision this week.
Miami fans know Cleveland all too well, as he is the player who 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.
Penn guard Jordan Dingle, the nation’s second-leading scorer last season with 23.4 points per game, announced Friday that he had entered the transfer portal, leading to a mad scramble among coaches all over the country. Dingle, the Ivy League Player of the Year, will surely command big NIL dollars and is expected to have many choices, but there is no indication whether Miami is involved.
Larranaga needs to replace departed starters Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller. Four other UM players transferred, including Harlond Beverly, who signed with Wichita State, and Anthony Walker, who landed with Indiana.
Meanwhile, Norchad Omier and Nijel Pack, who were expected to return as UM starters next season, entered their names for consideration in the NBA Draft. They are seeking feedback from the league on whether they are NBA-ready, and if not, which parts of their game need to improve. 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.
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, but nothing is cemented until May 31. In the meantime, May Madness continues.
This story was originally published May 1, 2023 at 2:23 PM.