Sad News: Miami Hurricanes Guard #0 Matthew Cleveland Sidelined for the Remainder of the Season
Coral Gables, FL — In a blow to Miami Hurricanes basketball fans and the team alike, it has been confirmed that standout guard Matthew Cleveland (#0) will be out for the remainder of the season due to an undisclosed injury. The announcement came Friday afternoon, sending shockwaves through the Hurricanes community as they prepare for the final stretch of their ACC campaign.
Cleveland, a junior transfer from Florida State, has been a key figure in the Hurricanes’ backcourt. Known for his smooth scoring ability, defensive hustle, and veteran presence, the 6’7″ guard was averaging 14.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game this season before the setback.
Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga expressed deep disappointment during a brief press conference.
“Matthew has been an integral part of what we do on both ends of the court. His leadership, effort, and competitiveness will be sorely missed. Our focus now is on supporting him through his recovery.”
While details of the injury remain private out of respect for Cleveland and his family, sources close to the program indicate it was sustained during a recent game and aggravated during practice earlier this week. The team had hoped for a quicker return, but after further evaluation, medical staff advised he shut down for the rest of the season to ensure a full recovery.
Fans took to social media to share their well wishes and frustration. Cleveland, ever the professional, posted a message to his Instagram story:
“This hurts. I love this game, my teammates, and this school. But I’ll be back stronger. Appreciate all the love — y’all don’t even know how much it means.”
With the ACC Tournament and potential March Madness hopes still in the balance, Miami will need to find answers quickly. Sophomore guards Nijel Pack and Wooga Poplar are expected to shoulder more of the scoring load in Cleveland’s absence.
The road ahead just got tougher, but if there’s one thing Hurricanes fans know — this team doesn’t quit.
