Enrique Freeman showed exactly what makes him a draftable prospect during his summer league for the Indiana Pacers. The Akron Zips product, who was selected with the 50th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, worked his way up consistently, grabbing rebounds, defending in space and being effective at finishing plays.
That was the sales pitch from the five-year college player, who had a unique journey to reach the NBA. In college, he was a monster on the boards and in the open court and was difficult to contain around the basket. He acquired modern big man skills in his fifth college season.
He’s now with the Pacers and hopes to help the team the same way he did in college. “He’s a happy kid. He loves to play. He loves to help his teammates, he loves to talk. He’s a lot like Sheppard in that respect,” said Jannero Pargo, the Pacers’ summer league head coach.
Luckily for Indiana, the 24-year-old had a ton of skills that came to the fore in Akron. He has multiple paths to success in the pros, and starting on a two-way contract, he can develop his skills in the G League.
Freeman averaged 0.98 points per possession in the post, per Sports Synergy. He was ranked in the 75th percentile of all college players last season, and while Freeman’s post-ups won’t be common in the NBA, he showed his touch around the basket in those instances. He was fluid around the basket and threw down hook shots when he had space. When the floor opened up, he dunked.
Those finishes, no matter what type of game they come from, will be there in the NBA. Freeman won’t have an efficiency problem. In fact, he can create his own lane even without having touches or play calls. The Ohio native produced 1.31 points per possession on throw-ins, which ranks in the 79th percentile. If his dynamism and size allow him to continue to shut down higher-level players, he should be able to score baskets off his teammate’s misses.
But if it proves possible, the Pacers and their G League affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants, should try to play Freeman. On several play types, including the big Puerto Rican, the Zips had great success last season.
When Freeman drove to the basket after a screen, he averaged 1.34 points per possession, which placed him in the 88th percentile of all NCAA players last season. It’s perhaps the most common play in basketball, and Freeman knows the importance of setting a good screen and driving hard to the basket.
He was also excellent on the cutting end. The new Pacer showed good timing when moving from one side of the paint to the other, and he established good positioning when launching into space. That earned him a spot in the 85th percentile as a cutter, scoring 1.43 points per possession.
In transition, Freeman moves like a gazelle. He’s quick for his size, and his effort often helped him beat his opponent down the court. He had a moment every outing where he’d force a stop or get a block, then run down the court and break free for a basket. He was rated highly as a transition player at Akron, scoring 1.33 points per possession, which is imperative when playing in a system like Indiana’s. They run often and emphasize open play in the pre-draft process. Freeman should fit in well when he’s flying around the court.
All of the above actions are the most common among college bigs. Run hard, get into the paint, and cut when appropriate. Freeman is no exception. But what changed his luck and improved his draft stock was his growth as a more mobile big man with perimeter skills on both ends of the court.
Freeman’s combination of size and speed allowed him to defend well in space, a vital skill at the professional level. He could pass and pivot without panicking, even away from the rim. He was rated as an average shooting player in his final season with the Zips, and while being average may not seem like a good thing, it’s a significant improvement on Freeman’s part — and shooting is important for bigs in the NBA.
A big asset for Enrique Freeman in his final season at Akron was his three-point shot. He had confidence in it – he took 5 three-pointers as a fifth-year freshman after taking 6 three-pointers total in his first four seasons: pic.twitter.com/mMxMVjJNB8
— Tony East (@TonyREast) September 4, 2024
Freeman prefers to attack by going to the left, then rotating over his left shoulder. He has finished extremely well in the paint — over 70 percent, by CBBAnalysis — because of these preferences. He knows his places and knows how to get there.
The rookie combines that with a strong rebounding ability (12.9 per game) and remarkable efficiency (64.3% shooting). Because Freeman plays so hard, is efficient on the rebound, is efficient and has a broader skill set, there are several ways he can become a useful NBA player.
Maybe his touch and IQ around the basket make him a useful offensive weapon, like former Pacers forward JaKarr Sampson. Maybe he becomes a dominant rebounder, like recent Indiana greats Terry Taylor and Oscar Tsheibwe. Freeman’s mix of perimeter skills and open-court intelligence could make him a rim-to-rim player with range, much like former Pacers player Jalen Smith. All of these outcomes are possible.
Freeman’s career could go a few different ways. Starting on a two-way contract, he’ll have the opportunity to choose his path with the Pacers and the Mad Ants.