Donnie Freeman is one of the top prospects available in the transfer portal at the moment, and Kentucky is after him. The Syracuse man is a former five-star recruit who was a top 15 prospect in the class of 2024.
Now, as he moves out of upstate New York, he’s considered a four-star transfer, the 15th best available at the moment, and the second-best power forward in the portal.
It seems that he’s going to Kentucky, or at least the Wildcats are the frontrunners in his recruitment. But there could be a problem; his reported ask is around $3 million in NIL money.
According to former 247Sports reporter Chris Fisher, the Wildcats could be painting themselves in a corner, as Donnie Freeman is too good a prospect to let go of, but $3 million in NIL money is something that could forever change Kentucky’s recruitment structure.
Here’s what Fisher wrote about it Monday:
“Now, if you’re Kentucky, you’re almost in a no-win situation. Overpay for Donnie Freeman and further the narrative that you’ll allow agents to take you to the cleaners, or let him walk, which would be a tough look for a guy you clearly targeted. This is where a GM comes in handy.”
The reality is that Kentucky will likely have to acquiesce to Freeman’s demands. Under Mark Pope, the team has been a continuous disappointment, and in particular, the last season was way below the expected level for the Wildcats. The need to revamp the roster is enormous, and the Syracuse star could be key in that process.
Where Else Could Donnie Freeman End up if Not at Kentucky?
The other option for Donnie Freeman would keep him in the Empire State, in the Big Apple, to be specific. Rick Pitino’s St. John’s Storm is pushing to get the Syracuse forward, according to reports by On3. Not only that, but they’re the ones making the bigger monetary offer, and they have left the ball on Kentucky’s side of the court.
Pitino’s St. John’s comes from a particularly good season in which it defeated UConn for the Big East regular season and tournament titles and made it to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.
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