Michigan State is making a bold move to land Mateen Cleaves Junior, the son of legendary Spartan point guard Mateen Cleaves, as a top 2028 recruit. Head coach Tom Izzo was spotted courtside at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam, closely watching the highly-touted four-star point guard — ranked fifth among PGs and 37th overall — who’s on the verge of a five-star leap. With only three schools offering him a scholarship — including Michigan and Rutgers — MSU is leveraging family legacy and program history to lure him to East Lansing. The Spartans have a track record with legacy recruits, and they’re hoping Cleaves Junior can follow in his father’s footsteps. The race is on — and the family tradition could be on the line.

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Rutgers men’s basketball is lighting up the court and the classroom, earning the National Association of Basketball Coaches Team Academic Excellence Award for the 2025-26 season with a stellar 3.0+ GPA. Among its standout stars, senior guard Tariq Francis—majoring in health administration—made the NABC Honors Court, joining over 2,300 elite student-athletes nationwide. Francis chose to stay at Rutgers, praising its perfect blend of academics and athletics, and dreams of merging healthcare, business, and real estate after his playing career. His game-winning shot against Penn remains a cherished memory, symbolizing the team’s spirit. Under Coach Steve Pikiell, Rutgers is building a culture where success on and off the court goes hand in hand.

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Michigan State just unveiled its 2026 Hall of Fame class — a star-studded lineup of seven legends who defined greatness across basketball, football, and track. Kalin Lucas, Big Ten Player of the Year and Final Four hero, joins Lindsay Bowen, whose scoring and leadership took women’s hoops to the national title game. On the gridiron, Dan Currie, a two-time NFL champ, and Tico Duckett, a 4,100-yard rushing machine and Big Ten MVP, shine. Completing the honor roll are cross country and track icons Walt Drenth, Sue Latter-Addison, and Leah OConnor-Falland — seven names now forever etched in Spartan history.

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