Syracuse basketball head coach Adrian Autry says that a decision should get made "very soon" as to whether freshman power forward Donnie Freeman will play again in the 2024-25 season.
The 6-foot-9, 205-pound Freeman, a consensus five-star, top-15 national prospect in the 2024 class from Washington, D.C., has missed the past eight games for the Orange due to an injured right foot.
Per an article from Mike Waters of Syracuse.com, Autry discussed Freeman on Monday during the weekly media conference call where Atlantic Coast Conference head coaches participate.
Adrian Autry said he hopes to know this week what the plan is for Donnie Freeman going forward.
— Donna Ditota (@DonnaDitota1) February 3, 2025
Regarding his talented freshman big man, Autry said in part, "I think at this point we have to come up with something within the next week. Probably in this upcoming week (we) will figure out what’s the plan."
Syracuse freshman Donnie Freeman could be nearing an inflexion point: Play or shut it down?https://t.co/dI8EUHRUUM
— Mike Waters (@MikeWatersSYR) February 3, 2025
We should know soon if Syracuse basketball forward Donnie Freeman will play again this term.
Previously, the 'Cuse program has provided few details or updates regarding Freeman, saying in a post on X a few weeks ago that his status was "day-to-day." That has certainly frustrated some fans who I interact with on social media, and I completely understand that sort of sentiment.
Donnie Freeman is out for tonight's game vs. Louisville due to a lower right leg injury.
— Syracuse Men’s Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) January 14, 2025
He is rehabbing the injury and has made progress. His status is day-to-day. pic.twitter.com/ONgYODiEEU
I understand that there are privacy laws, however, I also think that Syracuse basketball could have been more forthcoming about Freeman's status. Some Orange fans, lately, have just assumed Freeman is done playing for the 'Cuse in 2024-25, and that's entirely possible.
"We’ll probably know a little bit more very soon," Autry said on Monday. "Hopefully sometime this week about what’s the plan."
Amid Freeman's absence, Syracuse basketball has gone 4-4, including a road win against California this past Saturday night. The next game for the 'Cuse (10-12, 4-7 in the ACC) occurs this Wednesday evening, when No. 2 Duke (19-2, 11-0 in the ACC) comes to the JMA Wireless Dome. I'd be surprised if Freeman plays in that ACC affair.
Before his injury, Freeman was averaging 13.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contest while making 50.4 percent from the field, 79.6 percent from the free-throw line and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.
At that time, he was second on the team in scoring and first in rebounding. Junior guard J.J. Starling, the Orange's leading scorer, had missed seven games due to a broken left hand. Starling and Freeman played together once - a January 4 road loss to Florida State - before Freeman got injured.
With Freeman out, graduate student center Eddie Lampkin Jr., in particular, has put forth some strong performances in recent encounters.