Mateen Cleaves (Michigan State)
It might surprise you to know that Mateen Cleaves, not Magic Johnson, is the all-time leader in assists at Michigan State. During his impressive run at MSU (1996-2000) Cleaves became the school’s all-time leader in steals and assists, while leading the Spartans to a NCAA title in 2000. In his final home game in East Lansing, Cleaves dished out 20 assists, breaking the Big Ten single-game assist record…
Looking to excite their local fan base, the Detroit Pistons selected Cleaves (a Michigan native) with the 14th-overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft. But after one disappointing season in Detroit, Cleaves was traded to the Sacramento Kings. By the time his pro basketball career was over, Cleaves had played more games in the D-League than the NBA.