Donnie Freeman might finally break a disappointing streak for Syracuse basketball. With no former Orange players getting picked in the 2024 NBA Draft, SU now has its longest drought of having a draftee since the early 1960s. The last time a ‘Cuse player was selected was in 2020, when Elijah Hughed was taken in the second round. However, it’s been even longer since Syracuse produced a player who was first-round material.
Tyler Lydon was the 24th overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. That came at the end of a great stretch for Orange hoops, when 11 players were drafted over the span of six years.
Syracuse could finally change its luck and get back to those draft-heavy days next year. In ESPN’s first 2025 NBA Mock Draft, Donnie Freeman made the cut. Not only did he make the cut, but he’s projected to be the 15th overall pick, just outside the lottery.
Freeman is a player who has had his stock rise immensely over the last few years. By his senior year of high school, he became the sixth-ranked player in the class of 2024.
ESPN has a lot of good things to say about Donnie Freeman’s game.
“Freeman’s footwork and shooting made great strides. He possesses a true inside-out scoring attack and rebounds on both ends of the floor. The forward can play inside or on the wing because of his excellent size and skill. Freeman will help Syracuse immediately, and NBA scouts were intrigued with his performance during McDonald’s week.”
Before the 2025 draft or even the college basketball season, Freeman has a chance to show off his growth again. He’s set to represent The Bahamas in Olympic qualifiers, and if those go well, the Olympics. That would be quite the way to kick off his freshman year of college.
