Cleveland Invited to Participate in 2026 NBA G League Combine
5/4/2026 1:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty's Zach Cleveland will have another opportunity to showcase his abilities this weekend, as he has been invited to participate in the 2026 AWS NBA G League Combine.
The three-day event will take place Friday through Sunday at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill.. The combine will provide NBA Draft prospects the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of NBA and NBA G League scouts, coaches and front office executives. Participants will take part in five-on-five games as well as strength and agility drills. Cleveland is one of 44 players and the only Conference USA player invited to the event.
A select number of players from the draft-eligible group will earn invitations to the AWS NBA Draft Combine 2026 later in the week (May 10-17), based on their performance at the AWS NBA G League Combine.
Notable NBA players who have previously participated in the NBA G League Combine include Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, New York Knicks guard Jose Alvarado, Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin, Brooklyn Nets guard Terance Mann, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus and three-time AT&T Slam Dunk champion and two-time Kia NBA G League MVP Mac McClung.
This is the third event Cleveland has been invited to partake in since the end of the 2025-26 Liberty season. On April 3, he competed in the NABC-Reese's Division I College All-Star Game in Indianapolis, Ind. Later in the month (April 15-18), Cleveland played in the 2026 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (P.I.T.) in Portsmouth, Va.
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), 6.9 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).
For all information pertaining to the NBA G League Draft Combine and to view the full list of 44 players, visit gleague.nba.com/news/2026-nba-g-league-combine-participants.
The three-day event will take place Friday through Sunday at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill.. The combine will provide NBA Draft prospects the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of NBA and NBA G League scouts, coaches and front office executives. Participants will take part in five-on-five games as well as strength and agility drills. Cleveland is one of 44 players and the only Conference USA player invited to the event.
A select number of players from the draft-eligible group will earn invitations to the AWS NBA Draft Combine 2026 later in the week (May 10-17), based on their performance at the AWS NBA G League Combine.
Notable NBA players who have previously participated in the NBA G League Combine include Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, New York Knicks guard Jose Alvarado, Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin, Brooklyn Nets guard Terance Mann, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus and three-time AT&T Slam Dunk champion and two-time Kia NBA G League MVP Mac McClung.
This is the third event Cleveland has been invited to partake in since the end of the 2025-26 Liberty season. On April 3, he competed in the NABC-Reese's Division I College All-Star Game in Indianapolis, Ind. Later in the month (April 15-18), Cleveland played in the 2026 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (P.I.T.) in Portsmouth, Va.
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), 6.9 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).
For all information pertaining to the NBA G League Draft Combine and to view the full list of 44 players, visit gleague.nba.com/news/2026-nba-g-league-combine-participants.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballLiberty Basketball: The Best of the "Big 3"
Friday, April 03
Taelon Peter: From Liberty to the NBA
Tuesday, March 31
Coach McKay Talks About The Nevada Game
Monday, March 23
Coach McKay, Brett Decker Jr. & Josh Smith Talk About The Win Over George Mason
Wednesday, March 18