It's one of those stories that make observers wonder how long the magic can last.
Former University of Akron forward Enrique Freeman may get the opportunity to find out. Freeman is a former walk-on who went on to become arguably the most decorated Zips men's basketball player in the Division I era, winning Mid-American Conference Player of the Year in his final season and claiming a host of other accolades, including MAC Tournament MVP and being selected as an All-American .
He sits on the precipice of — at bare minimum — a professional basketball career. But Freeman is expected to go where no Zip has gone in close to 40 years — being selected in the NBA Draft.
Freeman parlayed invites to the National Association of Basketball Coaches-Reese's College All-Star Game , the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, the NBA G-League Elite Camp and then a full-blown invitation to the NBA Draft combine in Chicago where, by all accounts, he's propelled himself into second-day consideration for the NBA draft.
Indiana Pacers draft Enrique Freeman : NBA draft 2024: Akron's Enrique Freeman picked by Indiana Pacers in Round 2
"I am excited for him and his family," Akron coach John Groce said Monday. "He has put a ton of work in. ... He played well in all four of those events [during the past three months]. He is going to finish with around 15 NBA pre-draft workouts. His last one is actually today.
"... We have been talking to a lot of people, his agent and our staff. The NBA does a really good job of digging in and doing their homework and talking to us. They keep coming back with comments about his exceptional character. I think he has interviewed well and he has performed well in these pre-draft workouts holistically. He has had a few that are probably a little better than others.
"I told him, 'If you are going to have 15 of them, you are probably going to have five that are off the charts, five that are pretty good and maybe five where you'd like to do a little better. That is normal. It is no different than a college basketball season of 35 to 40 games. All in all, the feedback we have gotten has been terrific. I think he has got an opportunity to get drafted and has some opportunities outside of that."
Per usual, the annual talent lottery for the draft is a crap shoot. By all accounts, those who've watched Freeman believe he possesses the talent to play in the league.
" At 6-foot-7, Freeman will be an undersized frontcourt player in the NBA but has elite defensive traits that should intrigue evaluators," the Rotowire analysis reads. "He's got great footwork in the post and loves to go right before countering with a nice up-and-under move. However, he'll likely have to settle for a roller/cutter role and rely on increased activity to get [buckets] at the professional level. Freeman improved his jumper throughout college but needs to take more steps in that department to be an NBA role player."
According to several NBA mock drafts, Freeman will get that opportunity, the first Akron player via the draft since Marcel Boyce in 1987 in the sixth round. That was two years before the NBA went to the current two-round format. Here are several who predict where the Cleveland native will land:
Krysten Peek, Yahoo Sports, No. 38 to New York Knicks
FanNation, Draft Digest, No. 39, Memphis Grizzlies
Jonathan Wasserman, B/R Report, No. 52 to the Golden State Warriors
Freeman finished his Akron career first in rebounds (1,405), second in blocks (186) and third in points (1,843) in 132 games.
Freeman averaged 18.6 points, 12.9 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.6 assists in 35 games as a senior. Freeman tied the NCAA single-season record for double-doubles with 31 , joining North Carolina 's Armando Bacot (2022) and Navy's David Robinson (1986) as the only players to record the feat.
Freeman entered the NCAA Tournament tied with LaSalle's Tom Gola (1954 and 1955), West Virginia 's Jerry West (1960), Wichita State 's Xavier McDaniel (1985) and Oklahoma 's Blake Griffin (2009) with 30 double-doubles.
Reach George M. Thomas at gthomas@thebeaconjournal.com or on Twitter @ByGeorgeThomas. Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: NBA mock drafts predict where Akron's Enrique Freeman will get picked
