Syracuse Basketball: 4-star commit crushes top foes, 'most improved' in class, per expert

In recent days at one of the most prestigious high school showcases during the 2023-24 season, Syracuse basketball 2024 commit Donnie Freeman has played quite well, putting up some big-time numbers versus a couple of the best squads around the country.

The 6-foot-9 Freeman, a four-star power forward from Washington, D.C., is a senior at the powerhouse IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. IMG recently competed in the loaded 2023 City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.

While the Ascenders had mixed results as a collective unit, Freeman certainly did his part. According to social media posts and media reports, he had multiple games of 20 points or more, and he shot at a high clip from the field.

What’s more, one of the top recruiting experts out there dished out high praise to Freeman on a national broadcast during the City of Palms Classic.

Syracuse basketball 2024 commit Donnie Freeman is playing well for IMG.

Freeman verbally committed to the Orange in May over other finalists Alabama, Iowa, Texas and Georgia Tech. Last month, during the early signing period, he officially signed with the ‘Cuse.

In early July, Freeman was a key contributor as the Washington-based Team Takeover won the 17U Peach Jam championship on Nike’s EYBL circuit.

At the recent City of Palms Classic, in one game, Freeman tallied 23 points, six rebounds and three assists on 10-of-14 shooting from the field, as IMG defeated Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, N.Y., by a count of 83-66.

In a recent set of top-10 national rankings from MaxPreps that only includes high school programs that don’t compete for state-affiliated titles, IMG was No. 8.

In a separate set of top-25 national rankings from MaxPreps that includes traditional high school and prep school squads, Archbishop Stepinac was No. 5.

In the loss, Archbishop Stepinac’s Boogie Fland, a 2024 five-star guard who is committed to Kentucky and held a ‘Cuse scholarship offer, had 25 points.

At the City of Palms Classic quarterfinal round, the Ascenders lost a tight battle, 71-70, to the St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va., which is No. 1 nationally in the MaxPreps top 25. Freeman, in that encounter, registered 14 points and seven boards.

Freeman also had 21 points, six rebounds and three assists, while shooting 8-of-12 from the field, in a 96-92 overtime setback to the Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, N.J., which was No. 4 overall in the MaxPreps top 25.

Over the weekend, during a broadcast of a City of Palms Classic game, ESPN national recruiting director Paul Biancardi listed a variety of superlatives for the 2024 cycle, and he named Freeman as the “most improved” player in this class.

All of the main recruiting services rank Freeman as a top-55 national prospect and a top-10 power forward in the senior cycle. At present, On3 is the most bullish on him, placing Freeman at No. 20 nationwide.