Michigan State University Athletics
Cleaves Part Of MSU Hall Of Fame Class Of 2011
6/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
June 16, 2011
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State University will induct five members into its Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday, Sept. 22, as part of the "Celebrate 2011" weekend. The Class of 2011 includes: Morten Andersen (football), Mateen Cleaves (basketball), Dana Cooke (volleyball), Kisha (Kelley) Simpson (women's basketball) and Charles McCaffree (swimming coach).
The "Celebrate 2011" weekend includes the second-annual Varsity Letter Jacket Presentation and Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 22; announcement of the Varsity S Club award winners on Friday, Sept. 23; and culminates Saturday, Sept. 24 with a special recognition of the Hall of Famers during the Michigan State-Central Michigan football game at Spartan Stadium (kickoff TBA).
"You can't help but get excited when you look at the names included in the 2011 Class elected for induction into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame," Michigan State Athletics Director Mark Hollis said. "We look forward to this unique opportunity to celebrate the achievement of student-athletes earning their first varsity letter jacket in conjunction with recognizing the best of the best with the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
"Morten Andersen ranks among the greatest kickers in the history of college and professional football. With his range, Morten had a chance to put points on the scoreboard anytime the offense crossed midfield. His longevity and scoring production in the National Football League are simply amazing.
"It speaks volumes that Mateen Cleaves was elected into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot. That's something that rarely happens, but Mateen earned respect as both a competitor and leader. He was simply a winner, helping the Spartans win three-straight Big Ten regular-season championships, back-to-back Big Ten Tournament titles and a National Championship.
"Dana Cooke helped put MSU volleyball on the national map, as the Spartans won back-to-back Big Ten Championships in 1995-96 and advanced to the NCAA semifinals in 1995. Dana was truly a special student-athlete because she gained nearly as much recognition for her efforts in the classroom as she did on the volleyball court.
"Kisha (Kelley) Simpson's name appears prominently throughout the MSU women's basketball record book, but she was more than simply a great scorer," Hollis continued. "Kisha was a complete player, who had the versatility to contribute at several positions and on both ends of the floor.
"Charles McCaffree's coaching record speaks for itself, posting 25 consecutive winning seasons and claiming a total of nine conference championships, including a Big Ten title in 1957. His student-athletes won numerous Big Ten and NCAA Championships. In addition to being a winner, Coach `Mac' was truly a pioneer in the sport of swimming, setting the standard for how to run a championship meet."
The MSU Athletics Hall of Fame, located in the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center, opened on Oct. 1, 1999, and displays key moments in Spartan athletics history as well as plaques of all 103 inductees. The charter class of 30 former Spartan student-athletes, coaches and administrators was inducted in 1992.
Mateen Cleaves
Men's Basketball (1996-2000)
Flint, Mich.
Michigan State's only three-time All-American in basketball, Mateen Cleaves led the Spartans to the 2000 NCAA Championship, three-straight Big Ten regular-season championships from 1998-2000 and back-to-back Big Ten Tournament titles in 1999 and 2000. A two-time Big Ten Player of the Year and the Big Ten's all-time leader in assists (816), Cleaves is one of nine players to have his Michigan State jersey retired.
He was a three-time captain and ranks 14th in Michigan State career scoring with 1,541 points. During his four-year career, the Spartans compiled a 104-32 record. The Flint, Mich., native also is first in Spartan history with 195 career steals, and ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in 3-point field-goal attempts (fifth at 457), games started (tied for ninth at 115), and field-goal attempts (ninth at 1,331). As a junior, Cleaves set a school and conference single-season record with 274 assists. He owns the Big Ten and school record for most assists in a game as he dished out 20 against Michigan on March 4, 2000. Cleaves, whose 73 steals as a sophomore rank second in an MSU season behind only Earvin "Magic" Johnson, recorded nine steals against Minnesota on Feb. 14, 1998, establishing an MSU single-game record.
Cleaves started 24 of 29 games as a true freshman, averaging 10.2 points and 5.0 assists. He exploded as a sophomore, averaging 16.1 points and 7.2 assists and earning Big Ten Player of the Year honors, as voted on by the league's coaches and media. In addition, he was a consensus second-team All-American, including earning first-team honors from the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). His performance led Michigan State to the 1998 Big Ten Championship and helped advance the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for the first time since 1990. As a junior, Cleaves averaged 11.7 points and 7.2 assists. In guiding Michigan State to a 33-5 mark and its first Final Four since 1979, Cleaves was a consensus first-team All-America selection, earning first-team honors from the Associated Press, National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), Wooden Award and USBWA. The Spartans captured both the Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles, as Cleaves was named Big Ten Player of the Year by the coaches and was voted Big Ten Tournament MVP.
Despite the impressive list of accomplishments through his first three years, Cleaves opted to return to Michigan State for his senior season, rather than entering the NBA Draft. He missed the first 13 games of the season with a broken bone in his right foot, but returned for conference play to lead the Big Ten with 7.8 assists per league game. While his teammate Morris Peterson earned Player of the Year honors, Cleaves was selected first-team All-Big Ten for a third-straight season. He was a consensus Second-Team All-American, earning first-team accolades from The Sporting News and Wooden Award. After guiding MSU to a third-straight league title, Cleaves led MSU to a Big Ten Tournament title, finding a place on the All-Tournament Team. As the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, MSU advanced to a second-straight Final Four, while Cleaves earned All-Midwest Region honors for the second-straight season. In the 2000 Final Four, he averaged 14.5 points and 4.0 assists to earn Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors and lead Michigan State to its second national title in school history.
"To be thought of with other Spartan greats is an unbelievable feeling," Cleaves said. "I'm almost speechless, and I feel the same chills that I did when my jersey was retired. I know the great tradition that Michigan State Athletics has, and just to be mentioned in the same breath with all the great Spartans in all sports who have come before me is an honor.
"What I'll always remember about my time at Michigan State is the family we had. We accomplished so many great things together. It was not about me as an individual and what I did, but it was about my teammates, and Coach Izzo and his staff, working together to win championships. We also received great support from the University, the community and all our great fans. It's all those relationships that still mean the most to me, and are the first thing I think about, even more than what happened on the court, when I talk about Michigan State.
"The importance of being a Spartan and the Spartan Way are things that have stayed with me since leaving Michigan State. The Spartan Way is about working hard and being generous. It's about being a better person and a better athlete. These lessons that I learned from my family, Coach Izzo and his staff, and my teammates have stuck with me long after my time at Michigan State and continue to help me in my life today."
Cleaves was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the 14th pick in the first round of the 2000 NBA Draft. He spent six seasons in the NBA, including stints with Detroit, Sacramento, Cleveland and Seattle.
