Class of 2024 PF Donnie Freeman (MD / IMG) COMMITTED & SIGNED TO SYRACUSE (5/11/23)

[two3zone]

Hopefully Donnie stays committed if it’s looking like a team that will lose to Colgate.

Scared me when I saw this thread was updated lol

 

[Sbucketball]

You know the sport is horrible when I’m praying Donnie doesn’t do a second year in college because I don’t want him poached with NIL money before he goes to the NBA.

 

[atlanticuse]

You know the sport is horrible when I’m praying Donnie doesn’t do a second year in college because I don’t want him poached with NIL money before he goes to the NBA.

we got the Vegas event $1mm NIL slots chicks and ... who knows.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[Niastri]

Playing in an Olympic qualifier is going to be terrific for Freeman.

Even a lower level team like the Bahamas is going to be a really different atmosphere than his high school squad. The entire roster is pro players, including three current NBA players.

It will be great preparation for him coming into his freshman season.

Congrats to Donnie Freeman!

 

[Niastri]

Interesting to note, the Bahamas are on a 4 game win streak. Knowing almost nothing about international basketball, I assume it's better to win than lose, but beating Argentina twice, Cuba and Uruguay might not be a major accomplishment.

It looks like the NBA players showing as being on their roster haven't played for the Bahamas since winning the pre qualifier tournament last summer, which makes sense since they have NBA teams that pay them to be with the team during the season...

What isn't certain is if those guys are going to go with the team in July. Various sources (and there aren't a lot covering Bahamian basketball) argue about which of the NBA guys will play. I really hope some of them are there, for Freeman's sake, so Freeman can see how the best players in the world go about practicing and getting ready for games.

The Bahamas has never won anything internationally in basketball, and rarely even qualify for this level of tournament. I really hope the NBA players can make this tournament, for their country's sale. It would be really big for such a small country to make the Olympics.

The Bahamas will play Finland and Poland in July. If they win the group, they continue to play in a playoff which sounded similar to world cup play.

Finland didn't have any NBA guys on their current roster, but does have a bunch of veteran players 6'9" or so. Again, an entirely pro team, with players from all over Europe.

Poland actually looks pretty similar, but does have Balcerowski, a 24 year old 7'2" guy who has been on the national team since 2017. He doesn't seem to be anywhere near their best player, but might be the farthest away from anything Freeman has seen on a basketball court.

 

[jordville]

#2 for our boy, Donnie! Only behind Flagg...

 

[OrangeinNH]

Donnie’s interview with Mike Waters yesterday was great. He seems extremely likable, and sounds like he’s got a great head on those shoulders. With how insane this portal scene is, I’m excited to root him on for as long as we’ve got him in Orange. Sounds like he’ll be about 7’2 by the time he’s on the court this Fall;-)

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[Sbucketball]

Great interview. He sounds smart and articulate. And he's all in on basketball. Can't wait to watch him play.

 

[007]

Thanks for posting OrangeXtreme Any Mike Waters player interview is usually well worth the time.

Mike asked about what the coaches told DF his role would be on offense. Paraphrasing here - they are going to use his versatility (common off-season theme). Donnie is not going to be limited to playing as a traditional 4. IMO, he is going to do a lot of stuff that is traditionally associated with "playing" the 3.

And before all the ensuing posts come that he is not a 3; you're nuts. I'm talking about his skill set and not the position he "plays."

 

[Niastri]

Great interview. He sounds smart and articulate. And he's all in on basketball. Can't wait to watch him play.

Definitely agree that Freeman seems all about basketball. He mentioned that he's closest on the team with Chance Westry... Waters asked him what he liked about Chance. "He keeps to himself and works out, so we're a lot alike.". (paraphrased)

A lot of guys talk about how hard they work, but Freeman's improvement in the last year has been amazing. He's listening to his coaches and putting the work in, and it absolutely shows in his body and his game.

 

[Cuse99&01]

Absolutely loved his responses to several of Mike's questions. Seemed very team focused and excited to play for Syracuse. Talent aside, these are the type of players you want on your team.

 

[cusefan88]

Donnie is a very selfless person. He was saying if he does his job and the team is successful it will in turn give him personal success at the same time.

Really mature player. Very excited to watch him.

 

[two3zone]

Donnie is a very selfless person. He was saying if he does his job and the team is successful it will in turn give him personal success at the same time.

Really mature player. Very excited to watch him.

Wise beyond his years. Love to hear this.

 

[rrlbees]

Great interview by Mike and Donnie seems like a great kid.

 

[jordville]

Can't wait for Donnie in The Dome...

 

[Niastri]

Freeman finished in 8th place on the RSCI ranking. Our highest ranked recruit since Donte Greene.

Moore's final RSCI ranking was 77, in spite of being unranked by two of the services counted in the consensus rankings. The bottom half of the top50 often has wonky rankings, as sometimes ranking sites leave off players who are highly ranked by the other ranking sites. It is then uncertain if it was an oversight or a deliberate snub by the site leaving a player unranked.

Our class of 2 players came in 16th with 117 points.

RSCIhoops - 2024 Winners

1) Duke (465 pts) #1 Cooper Flagg#14 Kon Knueppel#16 Isaiah Evans#24 Pat Ngongba#35 Darren Harris#51 Khaman Maluach Duke gets the consensus #1 player (Flagg) and the consensus #1 class and the point total could have been higher if Malauch (a top 10 talent) had been ranked by all the services.

sites.google.com

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Queue up the complaints about him not being on campus to practice with his teammates.

 

[cusefan88]

Queue up the complaints about him not being on campus to practice with his teammates.

They haven't qualified for the main tournament. They play July 2-7 and I would say they probably are longshots to make it.

 

[Niastri]

They haven't qualified for the main tournament. They play July 2-7 and I would say they probably are longshots to make it.

With the 4 NBA players committed, I think they have a real shot to make the Olympics. They aren't playing the top teams in the world, they are playing other national team also-rans. Their first two opponents have active rosters with zero NBA players, for instance. Top Euro players often aren't good enough to get minutes in the NBA, and the Bahamas will be running out at least 4 current NBA players.

Either way, just being on the team with those guys and playing/working out with them will be huge for Freeman.

(And it really sucks he's ditching his teammates to play in a stupid qualifying tournament. Doesn't he know what's important?)

 

[orangefog]

With the 4 NBA players committed, I think they have a real shot to make the Olympics. They aren't playing the top teams in the world, they are playing other national team also-rans. Their first two opponents have active rosters with zero NBA players, for instance. Top Euro players often aren't good enough to get minutes in the NBA, and the Bahamas will be running out at least 4 current NBA players.

Either way, just being on the team with those guys and playing/working out with them will be huge for Freeman.

(And it really sucks he's ditching his teammates to play in a stupid qualifying tournament. Doesn't he know what's important?)

I think Jesse working with his national team each summer really accelerated his improvement. I think it will do the same for Donnie.

 

[SUFan44]

They’re in Spain’s qualifying tournament. Only the winner makes the Olympics. They aren’t beating Spain.

That said, still pretty awesome.