Yates, Thorpe attain lifelong goals with graduation

By Chuck Walsh
Seminoles.com

Cleveland Yates has always been expected to do well in school and to be a great student-athlete.  He was raised by his parents to set his academic bar high, to excel in the classroom, and to make certain that he was one of the top students in his class.

His mom and dad, who run a successful business in Memphis, had a very strict rule when it came to their only child and his academic achievement. Not only was it necessary for him to earn high academic grades, he also had to be on the Honor Roll and maintain that status throughout his formative years, or there would be no basketball.

For a young man who had grown to love the game, that’s all he had to hear.  Yates earned a 4.025 grade point average while attending the elite Briarcrest Academy in his hometown of Memphis, and will walk across the stage last Friday as a graduate of the Florida State University.

“Academics has always been important to my family and me,” said Yates, who completed his four-year career as a Seminole basketball player this spring.  “Growing up, my parents would tell me that if I did not make the honor roll, I could not play basketball. Academics has always been the number one priority with us.”

 The men’s basketball program also graduated Max Thorpe, a junior member of the team, was also part of an incredible network of students who graduated last Friday. The ceremony completed a lifelong dream of graduating from FSU.

The class that included Thorpe, Yates and their teammate Jaylan Gainey was made up of over 2,900 students who were conferred their degrees at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Thorpe was part of a select group of graduates who earned their undergraduate degrees in just three years.  He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Management and will pursue a Master’s Degree in Athletic Coaching, beginning in September.

Yates was a four-year member of the Seminoles (2020-23) including two of Florida State’s most successful teams during his career as a Seminole.  He was a part of the Seminoles’ 2020 ACC Championship and 2021 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 teams.  Florida State won 70 games overall and 45 ACC games with Yates on the Seminoles’ roster, as he helped the Seminoles to a 26-5 overall record and a 16-4 mark in ACC play during the 2019-20 season.  Yates helped the Seminoles win the ACC Regular Season Championship for the first time in school history in his first year in Tallahassee (2020).  Florida State’s 26 wins are a school record for wins in a regular season, as the Seminoles became just one of seven teams in ACC history to win 16 or more league games in the same season.

While he will always cherish the wins and championships he helped the Seminole Seminoles earn as player, Yates recalled fondly the time spent with his teammates as he makes the walk across the stage to shake the hand of FSU President Richard McCullough. 

It’s his teammates, and what he learned from them as well as Leonard Hamilton and his coaching staff, that he will remember the most when he looks back on his career as a student-athlete.

“I think I’ll remember the team meals the most,” said Yates.  Being able to interact with the guys and just talk about life is something I will always treasure. I am truly grateful for the relationships I have made here at Florida State.

As a member of the famed Florida State “Green Team” he will also enjoy vivid memories from the basketball court. 

From the sold-out crowd at the Donald L. Tucker Center in the Seminoles’ victory over Louisville during his freshman year to the Seminoles’ NCAA Tournament wins over UNC Greensboro and Colorado during his sophomore season, to the Seminoles’ victory over No. 5 ranked Duke during his junior season, to the Seminoles’ dramatic win over Miami on a buzzer-beating 3-point shot in 2023, Yates’ career as a Florida State Seminole was an incredible four-year ride.

Hamilton, who watched three of his players earn their degrees from FSU this summer, remembers Yates as an important member of one of the nation’s top programs in the last four years. 

“Cleveland will always have a special place in my heart,” said Hamilton.  “He was a member of our team for four years who never backed down from a challenge.  The dedication that he displayed to this program by showing up for practice and working hard every day illustrates his incredible character.   He earned the respect of his teammates, and that’s why he was our team leader during his senior season.”

Yates’ dedication was rewarded by Hamilton as he was introduced as a starter in the final home game of his career against North Carolina.

Yates and his parents beamed with pride as his name was called at commencement exercises in the same arena that he was announced as a starter against the Tar Heels. 

“Being back in the arena to walk the stage will be a rollercoaster of emotions,” said Yates. “I know that I will be proud that the challenges of being an undergrad will be completed.”

As he walks across the graduation stage, Yates realized how far he has come since arriving in Tallahassee as a freshman.

“I have grown so much as a person during my time at Florida State,” said Yates who lived through long film sessions, late practices, and a worldwide pandemic during his career.  “I am more disciplined, I’ve learned the value of hard work, and how not to procrastinate if you want to be successful.  I have learned that if you want to be great at something, you have to win the day and get done what you need to get done.  There are no shortcuts, and if it means enough to you, you have to find a way to complete your assignments.

“Florida State taught me that I can push past my ideas of what thought I could do.  I learned that in all aspects of life, there is another level that I can push myself to.”

His teammates, including fellow Green Team member  Thorpe, have also watched Yates develop from a shy freshman to an accomplished, driven, college graduate.

“Cleveland is one of the best people I’ve ever been around,” said Thorpe.  “He brings great vibes wherever he goes, is absolutely hilarious, and has a super bright future ahead of him.”

Yates believes that law school could be in his future.

While he decides on his future as a Florida State graduate, he knows that he will always have his memories along with his teammates.

“The best thing about being a Seminole basketball player is the love that you get from our fans and the people in the city of Tallahassee,” said Yates.  “Everyone is rooting for you and your team to be great. One of the great things is the people you get to meet and the relationships you build. I am an only child but thanks to being a Seminole basketball player, I have brothers for life.”