The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball program took Cleaves on a recruiting trip 40 miles from Ann Arbor's campus which ignited the start of the major scandal.

Cleaves and current players were passengers in a rollover accident leaving a party in Detroit with strippers, alcohol, and drugs that also included a stop at the home of Eddie L. "Ed" Martin.

[1][2] Martin's involvement in the party while being a Michigan booster and the distance from campus triggered an NCAA investigation leading to major sanctions against the Wolverine's basketball program.

Cleaves, a three-time Michigan State captain, led the Spartans to the 2000 national championship, and was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.

Following his NBA stint, Cleaves appeared for the Fayetteville Patriots and the Bakersfield Jam of the D-League, also playing abroad with Russia's Unics Kazan and Greece's Panionios BC.

[7] In addition Cleaves has branched out into music as an owner of the record label All Varsity Entertainment, featuring Jon Connor.

[9] Later that year, Cleaves and fellow player Andre Hutson were arrested after being caught driving a car while drinking.

Cleaves was accused of taking a 24-year-old woman to a motel in Mundy Township, on September 15, 2015, keeping her against her will and sexually assaulting her.

[12][13] On December 5, 2016, after reviewing surveillance video and the alleged victim's testimony, all charges against Cleaves were dismissed by District Court Judge M. Cathy Dowd.

[15] On January 4, 2018, it was announced that the Michigan Supreme Court declined to review a judge's decision to reinstate sexual assault charges against Cleaves.