YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Senior forward Carl Cleveland continues to elevate his place in Young Harris College men's basketball history, as the Mountain Lion standout has been named to the 2025–26 Bevo Francis Top 100 Watch List, announced by Small College Basketball. The honor places Cleveland among the top 100 players nationally across NCAA Division II, Division III, NAIA, USCAA, and NCCAA levels, recognizing elite production, leadership, and overall impact on team success. 

Cleveland's selection comes amid a dominant senior campaign. Through Jan. 15, the 6-foot-6 forward is averaging 26.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 53.6 percent from the field, 40.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 80.8 percent at the free throw line. He has produced five 30-point performances this season, including a career-high 40-point outing, tying the Young Harris College single-game scoring record at Francis Marion, highlighted by seven-made three-pointers. 

Beyond the numbers, Cleveland is on the verge of rewriting the Young Harris record book. Entering the week, he sits two points shy of becoming the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,977 career points, closing in on the long-standing mark set by CJ Wilson. Cleveland already stands alone as the Mountain Lions' all-time leading rebounder with 831 career boards and is also the program's career leader in field goals made with 664. 

Cleveland's historic season has gone hand in hand with team success, led by head coach Jeremy Currier, as Young Harris currently sits atop the Southwest Division in Conference Carolinas. National writer Wayne Cavadi recently identified Cleveland as a leading candidate for the Bevo Francis Award, citing his career-best scoring and rebounding averages and his central role in the Mountain Lions' postseason push. 

The Bevo Francis Award is presented annually to the player who has had the finest overall season in small college basketball, evaluating statistics, individual achievements, personal character, and team success. With approximately 14,000–16,000 student-athletes competing at the small college level nationwide, Cleveland's inclusion on the Top 100 Watch List underscores his status as one of the premier players in the country.