Mateen Cleaves: his name is "magical" at MSU

When asking who is the second greatest player to ever wear a Michigan State basketball uniform (with Magic Johnson being the greatest) most often you will get the name Mateen Cleaves...

Cleaves, a native of Flint, Michigan, led the Spartans to the 2000 national title over Florida - their second in school history - and was named the tournment's Most Outstanding Player...Cleaves will be remembered for spraining his ankle early in the second half and limping to the lockers...with Florida closing in to take the lead, Cleaves returned four minutes later to help Michigan State go on a 16-6 run to put the game away...

Cleaves was the Spartans only three-time All-American and was named Big Ten Player of the Year twice...he is the Big Ten's all-time leader in career assists with 816...in his final home game on senior night, Cleaves dished out 20 assists, breaking the Big Ten single-game and career assist marks...

But Cleaves' success never translated at the NBA level...he was drafted 14th overall by the hometown Detroit Pistons...he lasted just six years in the NBA - mainly as a bench warmer...he then played for the U.S. D-League and for teams in Europe before finally calling it career after the 2009 season...

On March 14, 2010, Cleaves joined Fox Sports Detroit as a Detroit Pistons studio analyst...he is also involved in the music industry as an owner of the record label All Varsity Entertainment, featuring Jon Connor...it was reported in today's newpaper (March 24th) that Cleaves was recently arrested for drunk driving...

Ron Mercer: a flash and he was gone

When the Kentucky Wildcats hired Rick Pitino, his main objective was to bring Kentucky its first national title since 1978...in 1995, Pitino made good for the Big Blue faithful...one of the key players on that national title team was all-everything freshman Ron Mercer...

Pitino recruited Mercer from the state of Tennessee where he was a Parade and McDonald's All-American...during his freshman year, Mercer averaged 8 points per game but showed his talent during the Final Four as he was named to the All-Final Four team...

Mercer's stock rose during his sophomore season as he averaged 18.1 ppg...

Mercer left Kentucky after his sophomore year and was the 6th overall pick by the Boston Celtics...his growth on the court did not continue in the NBA as he played for seven different teams during his nine year career...his time in NBA ended after the New Jersey Nets cut him in August 2005...Mercer earned about $35 million during his time in the bigs...

Eric Montross: the Carolina giant

When coming out of high school in Indianapolis, Eric Montross the prize in a recruiting battle between Michigan and North Carolina...he was a big prize as he was selected as a McDonald's All American in 1990 and USA Today All-USA first Team...

Montross had a solid career at North Carolina as he helped the Tar Heels beat Michigan for the 1993 national title...he was named an All-American as a junior and senior...Montross was drafted with the 9th overall pick by the Boston Celtics...he played for six different NBA teams...during his career, he averaged 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds...

Montross is now an announcer for North Carolina basketball...interestingly, Montross was the alleged "bag man" who paid off John Edwards' mistress during the early stages of that extra marital affair...

Corliss Williamson: a Razorback star

Corliss Williamson was the head hog for coach Nolan Richardson's 40 Minutes of Hell teams at Arkansas...

Williamson helped the Razorbacks get their only national title in 1994 as they beat Duke with newly elected and native Arkansasian President Bill Clinton in attendance...

Arkansas finished the year at 31-3 and Williamson was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament...Williamson almost led Arkansas to back-to-back titles but fell one game short by losing to UCLA in the 1995 title game...

In three seasons at Arkansas, Williamson was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 1993, and was 1st Team All-SEC from 1993 to 1995...he was also named the SEC Player of the Year for the 93-94 and 94-95 seasons

He spent 12 years in the NBA for four different teams...his career highlight came while he played for Detroit...in 2001-02 he was named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year...in 2003-04 he helped the Pistons win the NBA Championship...

Williamson announced his retirement in September 2007 to become an assistant coach at Arkansas Baptist College...on March 11, 2010, Williamson was announced the men's head basketball coach at the University of Central Arkansas...he is married and has three sons...