Five years ago, Enrique Freeman walked into James A. Rhodes Arena on Akron’s campus with a plan: just make the team.
Two First-Team All-MAC awards, a two-time member of the All-MAC defensive team, 2024 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, 2024 All-MAC Tournament Team, and an honorable mention All-American, that plan has since turned into a dream come true for him.
Freeman walked in the gym standing 6’7 and much taller than most of the others trying to play Division I basketball. He was fresh off of his senior year at St. Martin De Porres High School where he was the runner-up for All-Lake Effect Conference Player of the Year and averaged a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds per game. While he caught eyes right away from the Zips coaching staff, his size was a concern.
“You noticed his size right away,” said head coach John Groce. “He was about 6’7-ish plus at that time, long gangly, motor moving, blocking shots instincts were there. But at that time he was about a buck 80 dripping wet, you know.”
It wasn’t just Coach Groce who noticed Freeman’s talent and basketball skills, his future teammates witnessed it as well. Greg Tribble and Ali Ali watched on as they were already members of the team.
“I just remember a skinny kid just flying around, blocking shots,” said guard Greg Tribble.
Five years later, Freeman leads the Zips to another postseason run in the NCAA Tournament after being one-and-done against UCLA in 2022. In his eyes, it feels just like yesterday that he was walking into the arena for the first time.
“Yeah it amazed me when they say ‘Enrique was just in there in the walk-on tryouts blocking shots,'” said Freeman. “So sometimes it is surreal, and it’s amazing.
Freeman’s game has evolved drastically since he officially joined the Zips as a freshman. Going into his first season, he was only an interior player that was focused on rebounding and blocking shots. Wanting to be involved more on the court, he knew he had to be more than just a one-trick pony.
His offensive skills improved in a variety of ways as he played on the perimeter: shooting threes, free throw shooting, being involved in pick and rolls, driving the ball, and dribble hand-offs.
“All those things happened as a part of his maturation process over five years to get to where he’s at now where he’s a little bit more dynamic and versatile, if you will,” said Groce. “I think his versatility is what’s made him the player that he is today versus where he was five years ago.”
Freeman’s ability to drive inside has turned heads in the college basketball world. Even though the senior forward has found success in the five spot, he is still often times on the smaller side for post players. His skill and quickness have resulted in him being effective.
His efforts also caught the eye of Creighton head coach Greg McDermott. McDermott admires Freeman and his ability to be an all-round player with his size.
“He’s elite at creating angles,” said McDermott. “And he does so much work before the pass is made that his job is easy once he catches the basketball… to be from where he started to where is today is a credit to his work ethic but also to John [Groce] and his staff for the way they’ve developed him.”
Going from walk-on to an All-American is impressive for anyone to do in college basketball. Doing so at the same school over his whole collegiate career is that much more impressive.
With the landscape of college basketball today and the transfer portal, most players at mid-major schools stick around for a year or two and leave. For Freeman, he wouldn’t have wanted anything else but to start and end his career as a Zip.
“It means a lot,” said Freeman. “I know we’ve been together for the last five years. We’ve seen each other grow from freshmen to seniors like great men now, and the journey has been incredible. So I think for myself I’m just truly grateful for this journey.
Despite his situation being rare, and described as “unicorn-like” by Zips head coach John Groce, Freeman’s journey is one that can inspire us all.
Never let anything or anyone get in the way of chasing your dream.