BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Enrique Freeman became the first Akron player to be selected in the modern two-round NBA Draft era as the Indiana Pacers selected him with the 50th pick of the second round.
He becomes the seventh Zip to be drafted in the NBA Draft, joining Joe Wahl (Philadelphia Warriors, 1948), Bill Turner (Golden State Warriors, 1967), Len Paul (Detroit Pistons, 1973), Nate Barnett (Houston Rockets, 1975), Joe Jakubic (Cleveland Cavaliers, 1984) and Marcel Boyce (Phoenix Suns, 1987).
Freeman continued to elevate his draft stock at the conclusion of the NCAA Tournament, competing at the Portsmouth Invitational while receiving an invite to the G-League Combine. After stellar performances at the G-League Combine, he was invited to the NBA Combine where he continued to impress.
Freeman racked up accolades the past season as he was named an All-American by the Associated Press, a top-five finalist for the Karl Malone Award, the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, an All-MAC First Team and All-Defensive Team selection, the MAC Tournament MVP while being named to the Oscar Robertson All-American list and a finalist for the Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award.
Finishing first in all-time rebounds with 1,405, second in career blocks with 188 and third in all-time points with 1,843.
Freeman was named the MAC Tournament MVP for the second time in his career after scoring 71 total points (23.7 per game), 42 total rebounds(14.0 per game), and 12 total blocks (4.0 per game). He set a MAC Tournament record for rebounds in a game with 21 against Ohio (Mar. 15) in the Semifinals while scoring 24 points and setting a career-high in blocks with seven. He put up 30 points and 12 rebounds against Miami (OH) (Mar. 14) in the Quarterfinals while recording 17 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in the MAC Championship against Kent State (Mar. 16).
He also tied an NCAA record for most double-doubles in a single season with 31. Recording 21 points and 14 rebounds, Freeman joined Armando Bacot (2022) and David Robinson (1986) as the only three players in NCAA history to record the feat.
Over his last two seasons, he scored in double-figures in 49 consecutive games. In that span, he recorded 41 double-doubles. He was 1-of-15 players in Div. I to average a double-double and recorded 20+ points and 10+ rebounds 16 times over the 2023-24 season.
The Akron big man finished the 2023-24 season averaging 18.6 points, 12.9 rebounds 1.6 assists, .80 steals per game and 61 total blocks.
In his career as a Zip, Freeman averaged 14 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, .57 steals per game and 188 total blocks.
