Syracuse Basketball: 5-star Donnie Freeman has profile the NBA looks for, scout says

Syracuse basketball 2024 commit Donnie Freeman, a five-star power forward from Washington, D.C., appears to be catching the collective eye of NBA scouts.

The 6-foot-9 Freeman, who put forth a stellar senior season during the recently completed 2023-24 campaign, has been called the most improved prospect in the high school senior cycle on several occasions by ESPN recruiting director Paul Biancardi.

Freeman earned high marks from Biancardi along with other national analysts and scouts earlier this month during the various practices and scrimmages that led up to this season's McDonald's All-America game on April 2 in Houston.

At the game itself, which was broadcast on ESPN, Freeman logged limited minutes but still hit a pair of 3-pointers and was plus-15 when he was in the contest, which proved the highest on the West roster.

NBA scouts are intrigued by Syracuse basketball 2024 five-star signee Donnie Freeman.

Following this year's McDonald's All-America game, top national analyst/scout Jamie Shaw of On3 published an article where he quoted various NBA scouts who were in attendance for the practices, scimmages and the game itself.

Scouts spoke to Shaw about some of the 2024 McDonald's All-Americans, including Freeman. One NBA scout said of Freeman, "He might be the biggest sleeper in this class."

Another NBA scout added that Freeman's "got that player profile that our league is looking for now. A versatile defender, with length, and can make shots."

Heck. Yeah.

Coming up, Freeman will also compete at the Jordan Brand Classic on April 21 in Brooklyn, N.Y., and the Allen Iverson Roundball Classic on May 4 in Hampton, Va.

Ranked a top-10 national prospect and the No. 1 power forward in his cycle by On3, Freeman spent his senior term at the powerhouse IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., which plays in arguably the country's toughest high school hoops conference, the 14-member Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic (“EYBL Scholastic”).

In EYBL Scholastic regular-season affairs, Freeman averaged nearly 17 points and more than eight rebounds per encounter. He was No. 7 in this league in points per game and No. 2 in boards per contest.

Freeman, named to the 2023-24 All-EYBL Scholastic second team, helped guide IMG to the 2024 Chipotle Nationals, an eight-team event held earlier this month in Brownsburg, Ind. As the No. 7 seed, IMG fell in its first game, although Freeman tallied an impressive 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Not too long ago, MaxPreps national basketball editor Jordan Divens released his 2023-24 All-America teams at the high school level, giving Freeman an honorable-mention nod.

Based on his senior year at IMG and his play during the festivities surrounding the McDonald's All-America game, numerous experts say that Freeman's stock in the 2024 cycle is soaring.

One of those experts is Rivals.com national analyst Rob Cassidy, who recently said in part about the Syracuse basketball signee: "The 6-foot-9 forward continues to be a major factor on the glass and when it comes to playing at and above the rim, but it’s his improved touch from deep that has allowed him to take the next step. ... Freeman has the look of a full-on stretch four and managed to tantalize the crowd of NBA scouts that gathered at the event. A slide up the Rivals150 is coming, and the top-10 isn’t out of reach for Freeman, who’s playing the best basketball of his career right now."

Just love it. I'm happy for Donnie and can't wait to see him don a 'Cuse uniform in the 2024-25 season.