Illinois Wesleyan University men’s basketball player Noah Cleveland was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-America First Team on March 18. Cleveland, a sophomore, is the first Illinois Wesleyan player to receive this honor since Matthew Leritz in 2022.
Cleveland’s recognition highlights his strong debut season with the Titans. He was a unanimous First Team selection in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), and became the first player in league history to be named both CCIW Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in one season. Cleveland also earned five CCIW Player of the Week awards, made three appearances on the D3hoops.com Team of the Week, and received several tournament honors including Most Valuable Player at the Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational.
Cleveland has recorded 16 double-doubles this season, ranking sixth nationally. He averages 18.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game, along with notable contributions in assists, blocks, and steals. He scored more than 20 points in eleven games and surpassed 30 points three times.
The Titans continue their postseason run with an Elite Eight matchup against Emory University scheduled for March 19 at Allen War Memorial Coliseum. The team plays its home games on campus in Bloomington, Illinois according to the official website. The program participates in intercollegiate athletics as part of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin according to the official website.
Illinois Wesleyan’s men’s basketball team uses green and white as its colors and is known by its Titans nickname according to the official website. The team has previously won NCAA Division III national championships in 1997 and 2001 according to the official website.
The announcement adds another milestone for both Cleveland and a program with a history of national success.
