Cleveland Signs Exhibit 10 Contract With Memphis Grizzlies
6/25/2026 8:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Former Liberty men's basketball standout forward Zach Cleveland has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Cleveland becomes the eighth player in Liberty men's basketball history to sign an NBA deal. Liberty's previous players who signed NBA deals include Taelon Peter (2025/Indiana Pacers), Kyle Rode (2024/San Antonio Spurs), Darius McGhee (2023/Indiana Pacers), Caleb Homesley (2020/Washington Wizards), Seth Curry (2013/Memphis Grizzles), Peter Aluma (1998/Sacramento Kings), and Julius Nwosu (1995/San Antonio Spurs).
The news comes following the conclusion of last night's NBA Draft. Cleveland had a pre-draft workout with the Grizzlies, one of six teams he worked out with. He also worked out for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets.
Cleveland will be a member of the Grizzlies' 2026 NBA Summer League roster. The 2026 Summer League takes place from July 3-19 in three main locations: the main event in Las Vegas including all 30 teams (July 9-19), the California Classic (San Francisco and Sacramento, July 3-6) and the Salt Lake City Summer League (July 4-7).
Cleveland is looking to become the fifth Liberty Flame to make an active NBA roster during the regular season and join Taelon Peter, Seth Curry, Julius Nwosu and Peter Aluma. Peter, the 54th overall pick by the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Draft, was the last Flame to play in the NBA Summer League a year ago. Peter was the third first Liberty player in the Division I era to be taken in the NBA Draft and the first Flame selected in the draft in 40 years.
Cleveland played his fourth and final season for the Flames during the 2025-26 campaign. 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.
After the season, Cleveland was invited to compete in the 2026 NABC-Reese's Division I College All-Star Game and 2026 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.
Cleveland also 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 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).
Cleveland guided Liberty to a 26-win season during the 2025-26 season, with the Flames going 17-3 in Conference USA to claim the outright regular season crown for a second straight year. Cleveland the Flames won a new program-record 17 straight games during the regular season before receiving their second berth into the NIT and advancing to the second round for a second time.
Cleveland becomes the eighth player in Liberty men's basketball history to sign an NBA deal. Liberty's previous players who signed NBA deals include Taelon Peter (2025/Indiana Pacers), Kyle Rode (2024/San Antonio Spurs), Darius McGhee (2023/Indiana Pacers), Caleb Homesley (2020/Washington Wizards), Seth Curry (2013/Memphis Grizzles), Peter Aluma (1998/Sacramento Kings), and Julius Nwosu (1995/San Antonio Spurs).
The news comes following the conclusion of last night's NBA Draft. Cleveland had a pre-draft workout with the Grizzlies, one of six teams he worked out with. He also worked out for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets.
Cleveland will be a member of the Grizzlies' 2026 NBA Summer League roster. The 2026 Summer League takes place from July 3-19 in three main locations: the main event in Las Vegas including all 30 teams (July 9-19), the California Classic (San Francisco and Sacramento, July 3-6) and the Salt Lake City Summer League (July 4-7).
Cleveland is looking to become the fifth Liberty Flame to make an active NBA roster during the regular season and join Taelon Peter, Seth Curry, Julius Nwosu and Peter Aluma. Peter, the 54th overall pick by the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Draft, was the last Flame to play in the NBA Summer League a year ago. Peter was the third first Liberty player in the Division I era to be taken in the NBA Draft and the first Flame selected in the draft in 40 years.
Cleveland played his fourth and final season for the Flames during the 2025-26 campaign. 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.
After the season, Cleveland was invited to compete in the 2026 NABC-Reese's Division I College All-Star Game and 2026 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.
Cleveland also 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 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).
Cleveland guided Liberty to a 26-win season during the 2025-26 season, with the Flames going 17-3 in Conference USA to claim the outright regular season crown for a second straight year. Cleveland the Flames won a new program-record 17 straight games during the regular season before receiving their second berth into the NIT and advancing to the second round for a second time.
Zach Cleveland has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the @memgrizz! ?? ??? pic.twitter.com/JUegHarLfw
— Liberty Men's Basketball (@LibertyMBB) June 25, 2026
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