4-star with Syracuse in top 7 is 'one of most skilled guards' in 2027 class, scout says

Chicago product Devin Cleveland, a four-star guard, is among several 2027 prospects being recruited hard by the new Syracuse basketball staff these days. He picked up a scholarship offer from first-year head coach Gerry McNamara and his assistants in July.

Also last month, the 6-foot-3, 175-pound Cleveland dropped a top seven of Alabama, Arkansas, Marquette, Michigan, Missouri, Syracuse and TCU. He is expected to take official visits to all his finalists, including the Orange, before making a college decision, according to recent interviews that Cleveland has conducted with recruiting analysts.

Inside the Loud House isn't aware of an official visit set by Cleveland to the 'Cuse yet, so stay tuned for that coming up soon. He has said that he's eyeing a commitment announcement toward the end of the year, or possibly in early January.

So what kind of prospect is Cleveland, who ranks in the top 35 nationally of his cycle, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite and the industry-generated Rivals Industry Ranking?

"Cleveland is one of the most skilled guards in the national class," writes Adam Finkelstein, the director of scouting for 247Sports and CBS Sports, in a recent evaluation of this Orange recruiting target.

Syracuse basketball is heavily involved with 2027 four-star guard Devin Cleveland.

Cleveland attends the La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind., which is part of the 15-team Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic ("EYBL Scholastic"). As a junior, in EYBL Scholastic play, he averaged 15.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per contest for La Lumiere (22-5 overall) while connecting on 45 percent from the field, an impressive 47 percent from beyond the arc and 82 percent from the free-throw line.

Finkelstein says that Cleveland is "a natural shooter with a feathery touch ... He’s also a tough shot-taker and maker. Ultimately, he can be too willing to settle at times, but is a constant threat to make shots with deep range, on the move, or off the dribble."

In the latest AAU season that ended last month, Cleveland earned praise from national analysts and scouts for his play this spring and summer for the 17U team of the St. Louis-based Bradley Beal Elite in Nike's EYBL league. He averaged 16.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while making 42.9 percent from the field, 29.6 percent from long range and 81.0 percent from the charity stripe.

Cleveland, according to analysts and scouts, is known for his shooting and scoring at all three levels, but he has other appealing traits on the floor, too. Experts say he's a good ball-handler and passer; by adding more strength to his frame, Cleveland will be able to continue improving defensively.

"He’s crafty using fakes, footwork, varying his stride length, and able to manipulate space and angles with the ball in his hands," Finkelstein wrote.

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