Just last week, Liberty forward Zach Cleveland signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. He becomes the 8th player in program history to sign an NBA deal, continuing a streak of four straight years this has happened (Taelon Peter 2025/Indiana Pacers, Kyle Rode – 2024/San Antonio Spurs, Darius McGhee – 2023/Indiana Pacers).
The Grizzlies are one of several NBA teams Cleveland worked out with in the days leading up to this past week’s draft, a list that also included the Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, and Phoenix Suns.
Cleveland played his fourth and final season for the Flames this past year. The 2025-26 Conference USA Player of the Year, All-CUSA first team and NABC East District first team selection averaged 11.9 points (No. 3 on team), 7.6 rebounds (No. 1 on team), 6.8 assists (No. 1 on team), 1.3 blocks (No. 1 on team) and 1.3 steals (No. 3 on team) per game. The Bloomington, Ill. native’s 6.8 assists per game led CUSA and ranked ninth nationally, and his 225 total assists were the third most in a single season in school history. His 6.64 defensive rebounds per contest also led the league and was the 14th-best mark in the country.
Cleveland shared the league lead with nine double-doubles and had the conference’s only triple-double (19 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists) on Feb. 7 against Missouri State. Cleveland also earned 2025-26 Lou Henson Award finalist and Early Season Watch List recognition and was a 2025-26 Nolan Richardson Award finalist while being named CUSA Player of the Week twice.
Cleveland finished his Liberty Flames career with several other awards: two-time NABC All-District team, three-time All-CUSA, two-time Lou Henson Award finalist and Lou Henson Award Early Season Watch List, three-time CUSA Player of the Week, CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll and ASUN Academic Honor Roll. He etched his name in the record books, ending his time as a Flame ranked fourth in program history for career assists (569), eighth in rebounds (749), 25th in points (1,220) and second in blocks (127).
Here’s the full Grizzlies Summer League schedule and how to watch Cleveland:
- July 4 – vs Thunder, 3 pm, ESPNU/Prime Video
- July 6 – vs Jazz, 9 pm, ESPN/Prime Video
- July 7 – vs Hawks, 7 pm, ESPNU/Prime Video/NBA TV
- July 10 – vs Bulls, 8 pm, Prime Video
- July 13 – vs Mavericks, 7 pm, ESPN
- July 14 – vs Warriors, 7 pm, ESPN
- July 16 – vs Hawks, 8 pm, Prime Video
Memphis is also guaranteed to play at least one other game in Las Vegas in addition to the games that are already set.
