Tom Izzo offers son of Michigan State basketball legend Mateen Cleaves

Recruiting is coming full circle for Tom Izzo and Michigan State basketball lately.

Back in the early 2000s, Izzo recruited and coached one of the best athletes in the country as Jason Richardson spent a couple of seasons in East Lansing. This past season, Izzo coaches Jason's son, Jase Richardson, and he helped lead Michigan State to its most successful season since before COVID-19.

Izzo had a chance to recruit Richardson's other son, Jaxon, but it looks like he wants to forge his own path and head elsewhere.

However, Izzo has a chance to land the son of the best point guard to ever suit up for him (arguably). Mateen Cleaves Jr. is going to be one of the top guards in the 2028 recruiting class and the Spartans officially offered him a scholarship on Tuesday evening.

Getting to coach the son of Michigan State legend, national champion, and NBA star Jason Richardson had to be fun enough that Izzo wants to run it back with Mateen's kid. He'll have an opportunity to coach his second father-son duo.

It's still very early in that recruiting process, and there's going to be plenty of speculation regarding Izzo's retirement before Cleaves Jr. even gets to college, but if there was ever a reason to stick around for a few more years, it has to be this. Coaching the son of one of his favorite players ever is a huge selling point for the "please don't retire yet" crowd.

Cleaves Jr. has yet to receive a ranking on 247Sports, but he's likely to be one of the top recruits in the 2028 class. He was seen recently working out with Draymond Green, Cassius Winston, Jaden Akins, and Raymar Morgan.

I'm expecting to see Izzo make the Final Four in Detroit in 2027 and then turn around and land Mateen's son in the 2028 class right after. Full circle moment.