St. John’s men’s basketball lands Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman as its first portal splash

TL;DR

St. John's men's basketball has secured Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman, a five-star recruit, as its first addition from the transfer portal. Freeman averaged 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds in two seasons at Syracuse and was previously expected to join Kentucky.

Key points

Donnie Freeman is a five-star recruit from Syracuse.
He averaged 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
Freeman was previously expected to join Kentucky.
Rick Pitino's coaching influenced Freeman's decision.
St. John's is looking for a starting center.

Mentioned in this story

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Donnie Freeman

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 10: Syracuse Orange forward Donnie Freeman (1) during the ACC Men's basketball tournament between the Syracuse Orange and the SMU Mustangs on March 10, 2026 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Rick Pitino moved quickly and pulled off a coup for his first addition in the transfer portal. On Monday night, Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman announced his commitment to play for St. John’s. Rated as a five-star high school recruit in the class of 2024, the 6-foot-9 forward from The Bahamas averaged 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists on 48.4% shooting and 31.1% from three in two seasons with the Orange. 247Sports currently ranks Freeman as the 15th-best transfer in the 2026 class. The Red Storm’s pursuit of the standout Syracuse forward was sudden and decisive. Freeman was considered a lock to land at Kentucky as recently as Monday morning, completing a visit with the Wildcats and canceling a visit with Big East rivals UConn, but St. John’s reportedly placed the highest offer and hijacked the deal without Freeman ever stepping on campus. “I believe in what Rick Pitino is doing. He is a high-level coach, and I believe he can get me to the next point in my career,” Freeman regarding his decision. Freeman factors as a versatile combo forward who is capable of scoring at all three levels and still carries tons of defensive upside. The biggest concern surrounding Freeman is his health, as he’s only played in 37 of Syracuse’s 65 total games over the last two seasons, missing time with multiple lower-leg injuries. If he can stay on the court, Freeman can realize his NBA draft potential with the Red Storm. With Freeman’s commitment, St. John’s now has seven scholarship players on their 2026-27 roster. The Red Storm are also searching for their next starting center, targeting from and Mor Massamba Diop from Arizona State, with the intention of signing one or the other.

Q&A

What are Donnie Freeman's stats from his time at Syracuse?

Donnie Freeman averaged 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 48.4% from the field and 31.1% from three-point range.

Why did Donnie Freeman choose St. John's over Kentucky?

Freeman chose St. John's due to his belief in Rick Pitino's coaching ability and the highest offer from the Red Storm, despite being considered a lock for Kentucky.

What is the current status of St. John's basketball roster after Freeman's commitment?

With Freeman's commitment, St. John's now has seven scholarship players on their 2026-27 roster and is actively seeking a starting center.