Two high school basketball prospects considering KU to announce decisions this week
Matthew Cleveland, a 6-foot-6, 190-pound senior shooting guard from Pace Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, who is ranked No. 24 in the recruiting Class of 2021 by Rivals.com, will reveal his college choice at 2 p.m. Central time Tuesday, he announced on Twitter.
Cleveland’s finalists are Kansas, Florida State, Michigan, Stanford and North Carolina State. A panel of recruiting experts from Rivals.com and 247sports.com believe Florida State is the favorite to land Cleveland.
Cleveland averaged 22.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.9 steals a game as a junior for state-champion Pace Academy. He had single-game highs of 42 points, 20 rebounds, nine steals and eight assists.
Missouri was on Cleveland’s original list of schools along with Georgia, Georgia Tech and others.
“At 6-foot-6, Cleveland is a big time athlete and is someone who has proven that he can score from all three levels on the court, while also flashing ability as a defender and someone who can rebound the basketball as well,” wrote Brian Snow of 247sports.com. “Along with being an excellent player on the court, Cleveland is also an elite student off of it, and should provide a lot of value with his character and leadership as well as his ability to put the ball in the basket.”
“Getting to the basket, high intensity, being able to score, and just getting my teammates involved,” Cleveland told 247sports.com when asked to describe his game.
Jordan Riley to announce Friday
Jordan Riley, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound senior combo guard from Brentwood (New York) High who also has KU in his top five, will announce his college choice at 9 a.m., Central time Friday, his dad Monty told Zagsblog.com.
Riley, who has a list of KU, St. John’s, Georgetown, Florida State and UConn, will pick a program that is “100% beneficial to Jordan,” Monty told the New York Post.
Schools that failed to make the cut for Rivals.com’s No. 136-rated player in the recruiting Class of 2021: Kansas State, DePaul, Georgia, Iona, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest.
KU coach Bill Self, who offered Riley a scholarship on June 29, recently had a Zoom call with Riley and his dad.
“Bill Self talked about Jordan’s toughness and how he will lock you down on defense and take it to you offensively,” Monty Riley told Zagsblog.com. “He says he’s fearless.”
Monty added: “It started with (assistant coach) Norm Roberts coming to see him in a playoff game in which he suffered a severe cut on his eyebrow that required 10 stitches. Jordan kept coming in and out of the game to stop the bleeding but he had to play in order for his team to win. Norm was impressed with his toughness.”
Riley averaged 23 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists while leading his team to a 23-2 record and Suffolk Class AA Championship.
“Coaches are taking notice to Jordan Riley. He’s not in the top 150 ????? These recruiting services need to cut the politics out and take notice. Trust your eyes people ..... this is what an NBA player looks like in high school,” Sam Rines, recruiting director at Rocktop Academy and head scout at Basketballfinders.com, wrote on Twitter.
Some believe St. John’s is the leader for Riley, who plays AAU basketball for the New York Lightning program.
“Jordan has decided to stay in public school. Had he done what everybody else does, re-class and go to a private school, he would be a top 10 in the country and a 5-star athlete,” Monty Riley told the New York Post in referring to his son, who is a 3-star (out of 5), according to Rivals.com. “I know he’s a 5 star, I know he’s top 10 in the country.”
The Post noted that Riley’s house has a basketball court in the backyard. Riley this summer has practiced his game up to six hours per day.
“It’s given me time to work on stuff, learn new things,” Riley told The Post. “Work on my left hand, get my shot right, ballhandling, getting stronger, quicker. It’s how to help my body.”
He’s welcomed youngsters in his area to join him during workouts.
“I’m just working them out, trying to get them better, show them things I usually do in games and moves that I do,” he said. “I like to see them getting better, them having a smile on their face.”
Of Riley, one head coach who did not wish to be identified told The Post: “I think he’s a heck of a player. He has a fierce toughness on the court, which I love. Obviously he’s skilled. He reminds of an old school Big East player. Just a tough, hard-nosed kid. I love everything about him.”
Riley acknowledged that he likes to “play great defense. I get everybody involved. I just have fun.”
This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 9:51 AM with the headline "Two high school basketball prospects considering KU to announce decisions this week."
