Austin Freeman

Austin Freeman

Freeman played in Israel last year, first with Hapoel Eilat (12.6ppg) and later with Maccabi Ashdod (15.1ppg). The usual concerns about his NBA prospects exist - without great size or athleticism, or even all that great of a three point shot (his 44% junior year three point shooting is a clear outlier in light of the 36%, 27% and 32% he's posted since), Freeman's heady all-around game is rendered insufficient against NBA defense. Probably.

Austin Freeman - Over the last two years, Freeman made himself into one of the most efficient guards in the nation, never shooting below 47.6% from the field and becoming a scary if streaky outside shooter. But for all his great strength, Freeman is slow, and cannot create his own shot. He is no point guard, either, which would be fine were he not 6'3 and slow. Freeman won't be able to compete physically at the NBA level, and he's not good enough of a shooter to plug the gap.

Chris Wright, a future D-League all-star, is a very good defensive point guard; quick, big and athletic, with decent hands and a good effort level. He can also get to the basket, is a good drop-off passer, and has an improved three point jumpshot, albeit with almost no mid-range game. Alongside him, Austin Freeman has become one of the nation's best shooters, and although he's not particularly great at creating these jumpshots for himself, he doesn't need to be at this level. Freeman has up to 25 feet of range, knows when to use it, has a mid-range game, and when defenders play him close for the jumper, he can get to the basket and take some contact with all that strength of his. By being rather slow and unexplosive unless given a running start, he projects as something of a possible defensive liability at the next level, and this isn't helped by his being unspectacular off the dribble and undersized. Yet that shooting is a skill that can translate anywhere.

[...]

Georgetown will only get anywhere significant if they have Chris Wright playing. It is not so much to do with Wright's own abilities; it is more to do with what he brings that they can't get elsewhere. Freeman has become one of the best shooters in the country, but he's not particularly good at getting his own shot. Clark does even less of it. Lubick and Sims are both good passers for big men, but someone has to get them the ball first. Backup guard Vee Sanford can be a spark off the bench on both ends of the court, yet the only shots he creates are his own. This is where Wright's necessaryivitiness becomes manifest. Georgetown have improved on their depth from last season and can be realistically expected to go as much as ten deep on most nights, but they only have one Chris Wright. They only have one dominant ball handler, half-court creator, on-ball leader and dynamic influence on both ends of the floor. If Austin Freeman has to do it all, he's going to shoot 5-17, and the Hoyas are going to suffer a first round defeat. With Wright in place, though, they're a Sweet 16 calibre team.