Syracuse basketball 4-star commit Donnie Freeman impresses top scout

One of the most exclusive evaluation camps is taking place in Las Vegas, and Syracuse basketball 2024 commit Donnie Freeman has performed quite well going up against some of the top high-school players nationwide, according to analysts and scouts.

The 6-foot-9 Freeman, a four-star power forward from Washington, D.C., who verbally committed to the Orange in May, is participating in the Wootten 150, an invite-only evaluation camp being held at the Las Vegas Basketball Center.

Premier prospects across the 2024, 2025 and 2026 cycles were invited to the Wootten 150, with NBA personnel, McDonald’s All-American game voters and national media outlets in attendance, per 247Sports national basketball director Eric Bossi.

Bossi, one of the country’s top national analysts/scouts, published a piece where he discussed some of his standout performers at the Wootten 150 on Thursday. Donnie Freeman was part of Bossi’s article, which is awesome.

Syracuse basketball 2024 four-star commit Donnie Freeman impresses at an elite camp.

"Regarding Freeman, Bossi wrote, “what stood out immediately with Freeman is that he’s starting to bulk up. Yes, he’s still on the lean side but he’s added enough strength to move into the wiry strong category and that helped him make some really nice finishes through contact. … Freeman has always had plenty of athleticism, length and long-term potential, on Thursday he showed that his potential is being realized. His motor was running nonstop and what might have been most impressive was watching him drain one long jumper after another during the one-on-one play. Bottom line, he’s got a chance to be very good for the Orange and is the type of lengthy, versatile forward that Syracuse supporters have gotten used to seeing over the years.”"

It’s highly encouraging that, per Bossi, Donnie Freeman is looking good with his long-range jump shot. If Freeman can shine on the perimeter, that will make this talented power forward an even tougher player to defend at the collegiate level.

By the way, several other former Syracuse basketball targets were among those who earned high marks on Thursday at the Wootten 150. They included 2024 five-star guard Jalil Bethea (Miami), 2024 five-star guard Ian Jackson (North Carolina) and 2024 four-star big man Thomas Sorber (Georgetown).

In the late spring, Donnie Freeman verbally committed to the Orange over other finalists Alabama, Iowa, Texas and Georgia Tech. He has officially visited the Hill twice – once in April and a second time a few weeks ago.

As a junior, Freeman helped lead St. John’s College High School in D.C. to a 32-4 record, a top-25 national ranking, and the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (“WCAC”) tournament title. In early July, he was a key contributor as the Washington-based Team Takeover won the 17U Peach Jam championship on Nike’s EYBL circuit.

During the upcoming 2023-24 season, Freeman will spend his senior year at the powerhouse IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., which competes in the loaded 10-member National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (“NIBC”).

Rated as a top-30 national prospect in the 2024 class by several recruiting services, Donnie Freeman is part of an excellent two-member senior cycle for Syracuse basketball. The Orange’s other verbal pledge is four-star shooting guard Elijah Moore, who committed to the ‘Cuse in late January over other finalists Alabama, Arkansas, Miami and Oklahoma State.

The 6-foot-4 Moore, a top-60 overall player in 2024, is a senior at the Our Saviour Lutheran School in the Bronx, N.Y., which is part of the Atlanta-based professional league Overtime Elite.