Freeman projects at as a solid first rounder in two major updated mocks.
A new Syracuse Orange men’s basketball year begins just weeks from now, and one new player’s potential continues to look incredibly promising heading into the season.
Donnie Freeman, who will begin his first year with the Orange as a consensus five-star recruit, remains at least a solid first rounder in two recent NBA 2025 mock draft updates.
Notably, Freeman projects to go No. 12 overall according to The Athletic’s most updated 2025 mock draft. Among ESPN’s current list of top-100 big board prospects for the 2025 draft, Freeman is as No. 26.
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Here is what The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie had to say about Freeman:
“Freeman was a riser later in his high school career, a late bloomer physically who was skinny (and still is, to some extent) before adding a bit of weight and a lot of twitchy explosiveness. The idea here is a big wing/forward hybrid who already has shown real ability to knock down midrange jumpers and is seeming to add the ability to knock down 3s. On top of that, he’s wiry and has a ton of bounce. He will put up some fun highlights throughout the season.”
“Freeman does have a bit of a way to go, though. The handle is going to have to improve, as is his overall defensive awareness. But if you’re looking for an upside swing in this class, Freeman is one of the names scouts get most excited about before anyone has played this year.”
The “late riser” label for Freeman is certainly accurate. Throughout the spring, he continued to rise among the 2024 prospect rankings and likewise did the same in some of the notable mock drafts out there.
The six-foot-nine forward brings a lot of NBA promise to the table. Wing-sized players who have the athletic ability and versatility to switch between positions, offer some sort of outside shooting threat and possess the pop to make a play individually is one of the most coveted skill sets teams are looking for in today’s league.
For Freeman, there are two critical big picture questions you’d imagine scouts are asking themselves.
First, what is his projected destiny as an NBA defender? Can he guard on-ball one-on-one, either just enough or in a high-impact way? How about as a switch defender? With his size at the four, can be really make a contribution in passing lanes or in the paint? His athleticism is intriguing and he’ll have the baseline to not get attacked at least, but his upside defensively is a wildcard.
On offense, shooting will be the important swing skill as with most prospects looking to go pro. While he theoretically could slide down to the five or even up occasionally to the three in more unconventional lineups, he’s looking more like a power forward. Consistent outside shooting is desired in the NBA if said player is not a true five. If Freeman’s improvement is an outside shooter is legit, that would raise his ceiling a ton among the 2025 class.
Freeman will clearly have his chance to make these mock draft projections legitimate during Syracuse’s upcoming 2024-25 season. While he likely won’t need to be the primary option and will fit more within the concept of the team, Freeman’s upside is valued highly and his production will absolutely be critical in whatever role he ends up in for the Orange this year.
Tyler Lydon (No. 17 in 2017) was the last Syracuse player to be taken in the first round of the NBA draft. Michael Carter-Williams in 2013 (No. 11) was the last Syracuse player to be selected in the top-14.