Auburn basketball was predicted to land Florida State transfer Matthew Cleveland via the portal by NoleGameday’s Austin Veazey on April 12, a day after he declared his intentions to leave Tallahassee.
My early expectation is Auburn. We’ll see what ends up happening tho https://t.co/RLT7dEK8U5
— Austin Veazey (@EasyVeazeyNG) April 12, 2023
Maize n Brew’s Kellen Voss described Cleveland, who included Michigan on a lengthy list of interested suitors in consideration, as a Swiss Army Knife wing who’d fit into an Auburn basketball rotation that is in need of playmakers on the wing alongside the new backcourt of Aden Holloway and Denver Jones.
“At 6-foot-7, Cleveland uses his length really well on drives, getting to the rim with long drives and using quick moves to get defenders on his hip before a herky jerky finish through contact,” Voss wrote. “He’s also an excellent cutter who can finish near the free throw line with a solid push shot. He can also be a playmaker there, finding open teammates for easy buckets.”
Auburn basketball linked to big man, several guards in transfer portal
AU was linked to several other players in the transfer portal — though two may be off the table if the Tigers could land Cleveland — by 247Sports’ Christian Clemente on April 11. Among them include USF big man Russel Tchewa, Rice guard Quincy Olivari, and Georgia guard Kario Oquendo.
“Look for Auburn to continue its pursuit of another big man after the departure of Yohan Traore and Akingbola,” Clemente wrote. “On (April 11), the Tigers reached out to South Florida big man transfer Russel Tchewa. And while it seems a little unlikely that Allen Flanigan returns, especially after his dad’s departure from the coaching staff for Ole Miss, Auburn will look to add at least one small forward. Assuming Flanigan departs, Auburn will look to add two at that spot. After landing Jones, Rice transfer guard Quincy Olivari put Auburn in his top group and scheduled a visit to Auburn, but is not expected to be heavily pursued. With a little more size, Georgia transfer Kario Oquendo is still a name to monitor, but is more of a two-guard where Auburn now has Jones and K.D. Johnson.”
Bruce Pearl has kept Auburn in the conversation for most big name transfer portal entries, further solidifying the Tigers as a program on the rise — despite the numerous transfers and coaching departures this offseason.