Freeman

[MikeSU02]

Yeah, what I'm about to say sounds stupid, but he looks really tall.

Reminds me (and I don't mean this in an on par talent-wise way) of when Paolo came through at Duke. Everyone was basically listed at the same height but all of a sudden people realized Paolo actually was 6'10" and built like a house when everyone else just listed it.

That's what it seems like with Donnie.

 

[tptcuse]

Yeah, what I'm about to say sounds stupid, but he looks really tall.

Definitely looks about Eddie's height. I hope he doesn't lope around and start acting furphy when the season gets in full swing.

 

[CuseMan4]

Maybe I'm crazy, but Freeman looks almost as big as Jesse Edwards out there. He's listed at 6'9" but I think he might be pulling the Anthony Davis -- he doesn't want to play center so he lists himself as shorter than he is.

correct, Freeman is up to 6’11. Dude might be 7 foot by the time he leaves here. Not bad to have a big bodied 6’11 center, and an extremely athletic 6’11 power forward by his side and a 6’7 sniper at small forward lol

 

[SanDiegoCuse]

correct, Freeman is up to 6’11. Dude might be 7 foot by the time he leaves here. Not bad to have a big bodied 6’11 center, and an extremely athletic 6’11 power forward by his side and a 6’7 sniper at small forward lol

It may sound ridiculous but if he's in the middle of another growth spurt is that why he was looking kinda gimpy out there?

 

[SoBristol]

I would have never compared the two, in anyway. The HS video clips showed Freeman to be a superior talent and basketball player. I have been bullish on him from the jump. By far our best recruit since Melo, and it’s not close.
He is so smooth, some people question his “motor”. Crazy. His fluidity makes it appear almost effortless.
My only concern for him is he won’t be assertive/selfish enough. A dominant Donnie, not a cog in the machine Donnie, is best for Syracuse. If he is making AA noise, it will be a great year for Syracuse. A great year.

I believe Chris McCullough is a close match for Donnie. Similar size, immediate starter, unfortunately his season ended by injury after 14 or so games and he was one (or one-half) and done.

Add Donte Greene to the conversation as well. Different style - more me first - but a frosh who came in highly ranked and had an immediate impact.

Donnie is certainly skilled on offense, but we will have to see how he develops as a rebounder and inside defender. He could benefit by watching some video of Derek Coleman as a frosh.

 

[cardiac]

Having watched him in high school, his shooting ability stuck out the most for someone his size. For a dude that was hailed to be a shotblocker, I never saw him block a shot that wasn’t almost put in his hand. His effort on defense isn’t there. Nor is he active on the boards. He can change this, as his talent level is insane. Almost seems as if he only cares about O.

Ive never heard of someone not be "active on the boards" when they averaged 8.4 a game and were 2nd in EYBL...

 

[mark79]

Anyone remember what it was like being a freshman at SU? Wondering who professor tbd was and how he taught so many classes? Fearing you’d get loss going to classes? Ok, now add in the tremendous stress of playing D1 basketball. If there wasn’t a bit of deer in the headlights I’d be worried. Moving from HS to college is hard as it is, but add in major D1 sports and all of the expectations and we need to allow time to feel comfortable and adapt.

 

[Orangezoo]

Having watched him in high school, his shooting ability stuck out the most for someone his size. For a dude that was hailed to be a shotblocker, I never saw him block a shot that wasn’t almost put in his hand. His effort on defense isn’t there. Nor is he active on the boards. He can change this, as his talent level is insane. Almost seems as if he only cares about O.

I rewatched the game and not sure where you get the point on the boards or effort on defense. He was aggressive with both. There seems to be a tendency to have one or two possessions where a player is out of position or maybe doesn’t go hard that then has folks saying they are lazy. I could see it if it’s every possession but that just hasn’t been the case at all with Donnie. 9 out of 10 possessions he is going after the boards and putting ample effort. His issue at times has been positioning which is not about effort but just the learning curve.

I know you aren’t being negative just to be negative but it comes off that way when the take is just not accurate.

 

[23Zone]

Reminds me of young Jeremi Grant in many ways

 

[721Comstock]

Reminds me of young Jeremi Grant in many ways

Well, they were both skinny, and tall.

And... that's about where the similarities end.

Jerami was (and is) an insane, elite athletic specimen.
Who has (over his NBA career) become a very skilled player and shooter.
But when he came in, he couldn't do much more than dunk, or that spin-move, and then dunk or hit a layup.

Donnie is a good, but not elite athlete.
Not as good a natural defender.
But - he is FAR more skilled offensively than Jerami was at any point in his college career.
He's got SF/SG skills in a PF-length frame.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Maybe I'm crazy, but Freeman looks almost as big as Jesse Edwards out there. He's listed at 6'9" but I think he might be pulling the Anthony Davis -- he doesn't want to play center so he lists himself as shorter than he is.

I have heard him referred to, on multiple occasions, as 6’11”. Wonder if he had a growth spurt.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

correct, Freeman is up to 6’11. Dude might be 7 foot by the time he leaves here. Not bad to have a big bodied 6’11 center, and an extremely athletic 6’11 power forward by his side and a 6’7 sniper at small forward lol

Thanks John Rothstein’s brother

 

[djcon57]

But - he is FAR more skilled offensively than Jerami was at any point in his college career.

Jerami Grant scored 12 pts a game for the #1 team in the country and was on a Final 4 team

Freeman has played 2 exhibition games vs 2 D2 teams.

Seriously, why do this?

 

[bballbeadle]

Maybe I'm crazy, but Freeman looks almost as big as Jesse Edwards out there. He's listed at 6'9" but I think he might be pulling the Anthony Davis -- he doesn't want to play center so he lists himself as shorter than he is.

It’s the top knot.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Jerami Grant scored 12 pts a game for the #1 team in the country and was on a Final 4 team

Freeman has played 2 exhibition games vs 2 D2 teams.

Seriously, why do this?

One is not exclusive of the other. Freeman, as a freshman, is a more skilled basketball player. He is not, however, the raw athlete that Jerami was.

 

[SUbear]

One is not exclusive of the other. Freeman, as a freshman, is a more skilled basketball player. He is not, however, the raw athlete that Jerami was.

I do not think we have seen enough to know that. Freemam is apparently still growing which can effect many things in a young man. Also Jeremy topped out at 6 foot 7 by his frosh year. Comparing their athleticism is kind of apples and oranges.

 

[djcon57]

One is not exclusive of the other. Freeman, as a freshman, is a more skilled basketball player. He is not, however, the raw athlete that Jerami was.

Based on what? What "SKILLS" have you seen vs. high level competition. You mean taking a shot over a 5-6 kid and not dribbling off his foot? I'm not suggesting Freeman is not, I'm saying we saw this type of talk with Benny after minimal games too. "The best freshman since DC" The best pure shooter I've seen out of high school"

On Benny Williams...I changed my mind...

This team uses screens better than any JB team. They curl or flair really well depending on how the defense plays. They are getting wide open looks. Joe has been great making the correct pass.

syracusefan.com

Go ahead and read the greatness after Benny's exhibition.

Can we watch a couple of games first? Why are we comparing him to an established guy?

Also, you seem to be glossing over he said "he is FAR more skilled offensively than Jerami was at any point in his college career"

"Any point in his college career"

Jerami scored 24 vs friggin DUKE.

 

[orangefog]

One is not exclusive of the other. Freeman, as a freshman, is a more skilled basketball player. He is not, however, the raw athlete that Jerami was.

That's exactly it. Donnie is REALLY good. He can be better than freshman Jerami, or he could be worse than freshman Jerami. Hopefully, Donnie will be as good a pro as Jerami.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

I do not think we have seen enough to know that. Freemam is apparently still growing which can effect many things in a young man. Also Jeremy topped out at 6 foot 7 by his frosh year. Comparing their athleticism is kind of apples and oranges.

Of course we know that when we compare Freeman of today vs Jerami as a frosh. Those are in stone. Might Donnie improve his athleticism? Of course. I would be surprised if he didn’t, but you can’t project that.

 

[CuseMan4]

Thanks John Rothstein’s brother

Lmaoo unfortunately Carlos has shrunk 2 inches according to the palpable buzz

 

[IthacaMatt]

I think he will be everything we thought we were getting with Benny, and more.

He's been a weak rebounder so far. Everything else about his game is looking pretty promising.

 

[cusefan88]

He's been a weak rebounder so far. Everything else about his game is looking pretty promising.

One thing about him is that he's been rising up the charts the last 18 months. Makes me think we'll see a ton of inconsistency early (true for most freshman) but he'll really blossom once the calendar turns to 2025. He seems to have an incredible work ethic and attitude.

 

[SoBristol]

One thing about him is that he's been rising up the charts the last 18 months. Makes me think we'll see a ton of inconsistency early (true for most freshman) but he'll really blossom once the calendar turns to 2025. He seems to have an incredible work ethic and attitude.

Yes, well I think he has grown 6ft 10 in and shown offensive skill from the perimeter and high post. Not many players of his height have those shooting and ball handling skills. Is he a strong defender inside or a strong inside scorer?

We can’t judge much from two exhibitions. Slippery Rock was down 3 starters, so that game means less than playing against our own second string. We will have to see what he can do when matched against the bigs of D-1 teams.

 

[Cuse181]

Based on what? What "SKILLS" have you seen vs. high level competition. You mean taking a shot over a 5-6 kid and not dribbling off his foot? I'm not suggesting Freeman is not, I'm saying we saw this type of talk with Benny after minimal games too. "The best freshman since DC" The best pure shooter I've seen out of high school"

On Benny Williams...I changed my mind...

This team uses screens better than any JB team. They curl or flair really well depending on how the defense plays. They are getting wide open looks. Joe has been great making the correct pass.

syracusefan.com

Go ahead and read the greatness after Benny's exhibition.

Can we watch a couple of games first? Why are we comparing him to an established guy?

Also, you seem to be glossing over he said "he is FAR more skilled offensively than Jerami was at any point in his college career"

"Any point in his college career"

Jerami scored 24 vs friggin DUKE.

I’ll quite understand why people care so much about others getting excited over a player. Like does it cause you that much heartburn that others are excited?

 

[SUbear]

My point was really that comparing a guy 6 foot 7 to a guy who ia pushing 6 foot 11 is ridiculous on its face. Apples to Oranges,