Thursday morning, an oft familiar winter headline on the Young Harris College digital footprint, "Cleveland Drops 40, Payne Adds 38, Mountain Lions Explode Past King 115-94."

YHC is a small private Methodist affiliated liberal arts college of 1,400 students located in the beautiful North Georgia Blue Ridge mountains.

It's known for its strong academics and famous alumni, including Georgia Governor Zell Miller, Georgia First Lady Shirley Miller, country music star Trisha Yearwood, Puppeteer Wayland Flowers, Ronnie Milsap, Oliver Hardy of Laurel and Hardy, and Waffle House founder Tom Forkner. Now, the college adds another notable name to that list: Carl Cleveland.

"I had Division I offers to play ball, but Young Harris College recruited me and made me feel like family. I love it here," said the 23-year-old basketball star from Banks County, Georgia.

Cleveland may be the most productive Division Two basketball player in the United States. Standing 6'6, 235lbs, and this week becoming his school's all-time leading scorer with 2,007 points.

"Carl makes all of us better. An extraordinary player, an extraordinary person who lifts our program and school," offered Young Harris Men's Head Basketball Coach Jeremy Currier. "He will leave our program as the all-time leading scorer, the all-time leading rebounder, and one of the winningest players in school history."

Coach Currier says his own college coach once offered this view, "you will have many good players but very few great players—Carl is a great player."

Cleveland holds a 4.0 grade point average at Young Harris College with an education degree already earned. He is currently working towards another degree in business.

I spoke with Carl from Tennessee where the Mountain Lions were preparing for a game against King College.

"I'm hoping to play basketball in Europe and have already been contacted by agents toward that goal," Cleveland told me. "I'm the son of a basketball coach (Mike Cleveland) and would like to return home one day (Banks County) to coach with my former teammates."

While attending Banks County High School, the star forward garnered All-Region and All-State, as a standout basketball player. "My father taught the posting style of play with my back to the basket. It's the world to me, footwork is very important."

Watching Cleveland's high school and college videos, he is reminiscent of another small forward post player, the legendary Notre Dame and NBA Utah Jazz scoring machine Adrian Dantley.

"His footwork is really unbelievable near the basket," said Coach Currier, "each year he has improved his game with his work ethic and dedication to excellence. I'm so lucky to come to the gym every day and be around someone of his character."

This season Cleveland has been placed on the Bevo Francis Watch List announced by Small College Basketball, as one of the nations best players. He averages around 27 points per game, almost 9 rebounds and shoots 54% from the field, 40% from 3-point land, and 80% from the line.

"I'm not motivated by attention, I like to play in front of big crowds, but I challenge myself to be better and get better as a player. I enjoy playing in front of family and friends and lean on my faith," said Cleveland. "It's great to be 90 minutes away from home to share basketball with family."

The Young Harris College online description of his play in a few sentences is telling. "He has consistently made his presence known by scoring through contact, controlling the glass, and making an impact on both ends of the floor night after night."

"I'm grateful to attend Young Harris", says Cleveland. "When I was recruited by Coach Currier, it was always the right place for me."