Four-star point guard Devin Cleveland, ranked No. 30 in the 2027 class, has narrowed his recruitment down to seven programs as he begins taking a closer look at his options.
The 6-foot-3 La Lumiere School standourt is now focused on Michigan, Syracuse, Missouri, Marquette, Alabama, Arkansas and TCU.
Cleveland has one official visit locked in so far with a trip to Missouri scheduled for Oct. 3. However, the touted guard expects to eventually make his way to each of his finalists before reaching a decision.
“I’m pretty sure I’m going to visit all of my finalists so I can see everyone, the campuses and coaches,” Cleveland said. “I’m pretty sure I’ll be visiting all seven.”
As Cleveland evaluates his options, one common theme has emerged from the programs pursuing him. Each staff has presented him with an opportunity to play his game and make decisions with the ball in his hands.
“They’ve all been saying I’ll be able to be me and make decisions,” Cleveland said. “If I make a mistake, are they going to take me out as soon as I make the mistake or let me play through it?
“The officials are really going to determine what I’m really going to look for.”
Honesty will be one of the biggest factors that separates one program from another, Cleveland said. There will be an adjustment period when he reaches college, Cleveland understands, but he wants to make sure that the role he is being recruited for matches what will actually be asked of him once he arrives on campus.
“Really, just be honest,” Cleveland said. “They can tell me one thing, but when I get there it can be another. My dad can help me scope out what’s true and what’s not.
“As a freshman, I understand that I’m going to have to adapt into a system. But if I’m told I’m coming in to have the ball in my hands but when I get there I’m sitting in the corner, I got to see if you’re really truthful about things.
“And like I said, I’ll have to adapt and get used to the system, but are you going to let me play the same way that you recruited me for? Don’t recruit me for one thing and then when I get there I’m doing another.”
Cleveland initially planned to make his college decision in early December, but he has pushed that timeline back slightly.
