Syracuse basketball recruiting 4-star big man, an ideal NIL candidate, hard

Consensus four-star Donnie Freeman from Washington, D.C., one of the top power forwards in the 2024 class, released a top five in late November that didn’t include Syracuse basketball.

However, about a month later, he disclosed via Twitter that his recruitment remained open, despite listing a top five of Big Ten Conference members Rutgers, Maryland and Iowa, LSU out of the Southeastern Conference, and Texas from the Big 12 Conference.

I have to admit that when the 6-foot-9 Freeman didn’t include the Orange in his top five, I was bummed. He was the first 2024 prospect to receive a scholarship offer from the ‘Cuse, back in August of 2021 during the time of the team’s annual Elite Camp.

It appears, though, that Syracuse basketball may be back in the mix for Freeman. He told SyracuseOnSI publisher Mike McAllister in a recent story that the Orange coaching staff has been “aggressive” in recruiting him. That is wonderful news.

Syracuse basketball has re-entered the recruitment of four-star big man Donnie Freeman.

The SyracuseOnSI article stated that Freeman and the ‘Cuse coaching staff are discussing a possible official visit that the talented 2024 player may take to the Hill at some point next month.

“Excited for what the future holds and what they have in store,” Freeman said to McAllister.

Freeman has put forth a strong 2022-23 season to date as a junior at St. John’s College High School in D.C., which has proven one of the best squads nationwide in the current term.

On the AAU circuit, Freeman suits up for Washington-based Team Takeover in Nike’s EYBL league, a program for which Syracuse basketball coaches are quite familiar.

Numerous recruiting services rate Freeman as a top-40 national prospect and a top-six power forward within the 2024 class.

Throughout his recruiting process, Freeman has received scholarship offers from high-major squads such as 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.

Getting Freeman to the ‘Cuse campus for an official visit would be a really positive development for the Orange’s chances with him.

I also think that Freeman could make an ideal candidate for name, image and likeness opportunities from businessman, philanthropist and top SU booster Adam Weitsman.

As we’ve reported numerous times lately, Weitsman has made significant NIL offers to several high-school prospects in recent weeks, although those offers have focused more on point guards, combo guards and wings/small forwards.

Freeman is a terrific big man, primarily playing the power-forward spot. I hope that Weitsman and Freeman connect in the future to discuss NIL.