Syracuse Basketball: 4-star big man with ‘Cuse offer cuts list of contenders

Donnie Freeman from Washington, D.C., one of the top power forwards in the 2024 class, has eliminated Syracuse basketball from contention in his recruitment.

The 6-foot-9 Freeman, a consensus top-60 prospect in the junior cycle, said on Twitter that his five remaining finalists are Big Ten Conference members Rutgers, Maryland and Iowa, LSU out of the Southeastern Conference, and Texas from the Big 12 Conference.

First of all, we’re wishing Freeman all the success in the world as he continues his high-school career and then moves on to the collegiate ranks.

Secondly, Freeman not including the Orange in his top five isn’t all that surprising. While the ‘Cuse reportedly was recruiting him hard for a period of time, lately, when the four-star Freeman would discuss his recruiting process, Syracuse basketball was hardly mentioned, if at all.

Syracuse basketball is out of the running for 2024 four-star big man Donnie Freeman.

Around the time that he revealed his top five, several media reports indicated that Freeman could make a commitment decision sometime in December.

Freeman is a standout junior at St. John’s College High School in D.C. In grassroots basketball, he suits up for Washington-based Team Takeover in Nike’s EYBL league. Syracuse basketball coaches are quite familiar with the Team Takeover program, by the way.

When Freeman attended the Orange’s annual Elite Camp in August of 2021, he picked up a scholarship offer from the ‘Cuse. That marked the first offer doled out by Syracuse basketball coaches in the junior class.

Reports suggested that for a while, the Orange was prioritizing Freeman in the 2024 cycle. He even said on several occasions that he was planning to take an official visit to the Hill, but that never happened.

He has made unofficial visits to Rutgers and Maryland as well as official visits to Iowa and Texas. He recently told Stockrisers.com founder Jake Weingarten that he may go on an official visit to LSU as well.

His full offer sheet, beyond Syracuse basketball, included 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.

Several recruiting services rate Freeman in the top 30 of his class, as well as a top-10 power forward and the No. 1 player in our nation’s capital.

Orange coaches have offered numerous other 2024 big men, including five-star Derik Queen, five-star Yves Missi and four-star Thomas Sorber.

Last month, other developments transpired for the ‘Cuse with its 2024 recruiting efforts. Five-star point guard Elliot Cadeau put Syracuse basketball in his top six, while four-star guard Jalil Bethea, four-star shooting guard Elijah Moore and four-star wing Damarius Owens all took official visits to the Orange campus.