St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s Inks Standout Forward Donnie Freeman
4/22/2026 12:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Top-15 ranked transfer portal prospect starred for two seasons at Syracuse
QUEENS, N.Y.- St. John's Men's Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino has announced the addition of former five-star prospect Donnie Freeman to his roster for the 2026-27 campaign.
Freeman, a 6-foot-9 forward out of Washington, D.C., comes to Queens following two seasons at Syracuse, where he averaged 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds over 37 career games. The 2025-26 All-ACC Honorable Mention selection was rated a top-15 prospect in the transfer portal according to ESPN and 247Sports.
"Donnie Freeman has great size and offensive potential," said Pitino. "He's a big addition for our frontcourt and we're excited to have him as part of our Johnnie family."
This past season, Freeman started 21 of his 23 appearances for the Orange, averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per outing. He shot 47.4% from the floor and 30.2% from beyond the arc while converting on 76.7% of his chances from the charity stripe. Freeman finished in double figures 18 times with eight showings of 20-plus points. He poured in 25 or more points three different times, including a career-high 28 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including a 4-of-7 showing from 3-point range, at Wake Forest on Feb. 28. Freeman posted four double-doubles, including two straight to end the regular season against Louisville and Pittsburgh.
During his sophomore season, Freeman was sidelined for just over a month beginning in mid-November before returning against Clemson on New Year's Eve. He logged 18 points and nine rebounds in that contest against the Tigers.
In his debut collegiate campaign in 2024-25, Freeman started 13 of his first 14 appearances before missing the remainder of the season with a lower-leg injury. Freeman impressed in limited action as a freshman, averaging 13.4 points and 7.9 boards per outing. He shot 50.4% from the floor, 33.3% from long range and 79.6% from the charity stripe on just under four attempts per game. Freeman tallied six double-doubles, a total that was tied for eighth in the ACC and seventh nationally among freshmen despite his limited playing time.
A McDonald's All-American out of IMG Academy, Freeman arrived at Syracuse as one of the nation's most highly sought-after recruits, finishing sixth in the ESPN Top-100. Freeman was ranked 15th nationally in his class by 247Sports and 19th according to On3/Rivals. In addition to the McDonald's All-America Game, where he drained a pair of 3-pointers, Freeman was also invited to played in the Jordan Brand Classic and the Allen Iverson Roundball Classic.
Before enrolling at IMG Academy, Freeman led St. John's College High School to a 32-4 record and a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title in 2022-23, averaging 21.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest.
He played for Team Takeover on the grassroots circuit, taking home the Peach Jam U17 crown in 2023. In international competition, Freeman competes for the Bahamian Senior National Team, most recently suiting up in the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia, Spain alongside NBA standouts DeAndre Ayton, VJ Edgecombe, Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon.
Freeman joins a Red Storm program that boasts a 61-12 record over the last two seasons, has won back-to-back BIG EAST Regular Season and Tournament Championships and reached the Sweet 16 this past year for the first time since 1999. Place a deposit for season tickets by clicking here and support the program's efforts by donating to Mike Repole's Red Storm Legacy Investment Fund Match Campaign through April 29. For more information on the match campaign, click here.
Freeman, a 6-foot-9 forward out of Washington, D.C., comes to Queens following two seasons at Syracuse, where he averaged 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds over 37 career games. The 2025-26 All-ACC Honorable Mention selection was rated a top-15 prospect in the transfer portal according to ESPN and 247Sports.
"Donnie Freeman has great size and offensive potential," said Pitino. "He's a big addition for our frontcourt and we're excited to have him as part of our Johnnie family."
This past season, Freeman started 21 of his 23 appearances for the Orange, averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per outing. He shot 47.4% from the floor and 30.2% from beyond the arc while converting on 76.7% of his chances from the charity stripe. Freeman finished in double figures 18 times with eight showings of 20-plus points. He poured in 25 or more points three different times, including a career-high 28 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including a 4-of-7 showing from 3-point range, at Wake Forest on Feb. 28. Freeman posted four double-doubles, including two straight to end the regular season against Louisville and Pittsburgh.
During his sophomore season, Freeman was sidelined for just over a month beginning in mid-November before returning against Clemson on New Year's Eve. He logged 18 points and nine rebounds in that contest against the Tigers.
In his debut collegiate campaign in 2024-25, Freeman started 13 of his first 14 appearances before missing the remainder of the season with a lower-leg injury. Freeman impressed in limited action as a freshman, averaging 13.4 points and 7.9 boards per outing. He shot 50.4% from the floor, 33.3% from long range and 79.6% from the charity stripe on just under four attempts per game. Freeman tallied six double-doubles, a total that was tied for eighth in the ACC and seventh nationally among freshmen despite his limited playing time.
A McDonald's All-American out of IMG Academy, Freeman arrived at Syracuse as one of the nation's most highly sought-after recruits, finishing sixth in the ESPN Top-100. Freeman was ranked 15th nationally in his class by 247Sports and 19th according to On3/Rivals. In addition to the McDonald's All-America Game, where he drained a pair of 3-pointers, Freeman was also invited to played in the Jordan Brand Classic and the Allen Iverson Roundball Classic.
Before enrolling at IMG Academy, Freeman led St. John's College High School to a 32-4 record and a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title in 2022-23, averaging 21.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest.
He played for Team Takeover on the grassroots circuit, taking home the Peach Jam U17 crown in 2023. In international competition, Freeman competes for the Bahamian Senior National Team, most recently suiting up in the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia, Spain alongside NBA standouts DeAndre Ayton, VJ Edgecombe, Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon.
Freeman joins a Red Storm program that boasts a 61-12 record over the last two seasons, has won back-to-back BIG EAST Regular Season and Tournament Championships and reached the Sweet 16 this past year for the first time since 1999. Place a deposit for season tickets by clicking here and support the program's efforts by donating to Mike Repole's Red Storm Legacy Investment Fund Match Campaign through April 29. For more information on the match campaign, click here.
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