Syracuse Basketball: 4-star D.C. big man with SU offer set to reveal top 5

Donnie Freeman from Washington, D.C., a four-star big man who received a scholarship offer from Syracuse basketball in August of 2021, plans to disclose his top five this Thursday, on Thanksgiving, he said on Twitter.

The 6-foot-9 power forward took an unofficial visit to the Orange in August of 2021 when he participated in the team’s annual Elite Camp.

At that time, the ‘Cuse offered Freeman, and it was the first offer doled out by the Orange in the 2024 recruiting cycle.

Freeman is a junior at St. John’s College High School in D.C. He suits up on the AAU circuit with the Washington-based Team Takeover in Nike’s EYBL league, a grassroots basketball program that has seen several of its alumni head to the Hill in recent years.

Syracuse basketball will soon know whether it remains in contention for big man Donnie Freeman.

Over the summer, Freeman indicated via Twitter that he was eyeing a possible official visit to the ‘Cuse, although that has yet to materialize.

According to recruiting services and media reports, Freeman has taken several visits to college campuses. He has made unofficial visits to Rutgers and Maryland.

In September, Freeman took an official visit to Iowa, and he also recently made an official visit to Texas.

To date, his offer sheet, besides Syracuse basketball, includes LSU, Kansas State, Pittsburgh, Iowa, Texas, Rutgers, Marquette, Bryant, Ole Miss, VCU, Norfolk State, Alabama, Maryland, Georgetown, Virginia Tech, Xavier, George Mason and Old Dominion.

All of the primary recruiting services rate Freeman in the top 60 of the 2024 class. Several recruiting Web sites rank him inside the top 30.

Additionally, Freeman is deemed the No. 1 prospect in Washington, D.C., within the 2024 cycle, and he’s also a top-10 power forward across the country in this class.

Since Syracuse basketball coaches offered him more than a year ago, I’ve come across numerous reports that suggested the Orange was recruiting Freeman hard. Whether that is currently the case remains to be seen.

In a recent interview with national analyst Jake Weingarten, who is the founder of Stockrisers.com, Freeman was asked which schools are heavily involved in his recruitment at this juncture.

Freeman responded, “Texas, Arkansas, Rutgers, Miami, Iowa, and Maryland.” His most recent offer is from LSU, and he said to Weingarten that he may take an official visit to that Southeastern Conference squad.

Freeman said he’s eyeing a potential commitment announcement “probably sometime in December.”

We’ll obviously provide an update once Freeman unveils his top five. If I’m being candid here, I’ll be a little surprised if the ‘Cuse makes the cut.