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Mark Pope worked hard in the opening days of the offseason to land some of the top players available in the transfer portal for the Kentucky Wildcats. One of those players was former Syracuse forward Donnie Freeman, a former top 15 recruit with two years of eligibility remaining.
Freeman visited Lexington, and Kentucky was a front-runner to land him, but he ultimately committed to Rick Pitino and St. John's instead. Now, it looks like that may have been a blessing in disguise. Pitino announced that Freeman had surgery to repair a torn Achilles, and he will miss the 2026-27 season. It's an unfortunate blow for a player who figured to be a starter for Pitino's squad. In making the announcement, the coach was quick to say they expect him back and healthy next year.
Pope and the Wildcats were hoping to bring Freeman in and make him a centerpiece of their offense, but it didn't work out. So, did they catch a break by not getting his commitment?
The injury is a freak one, and could happen to anyone. There's no way to say he would have suffered the same injury if things had gone differently. Still, after what happened last year with Jayden Quaintance, fans are likely breathing a sigh of relief.
We wish Freeman the best in his recovery, and in the future.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: A Kentucky transfer portal miss won't play in the 2026-27 season
Continue reading...
Freeman visited Lexington, and Kentucky was a front-runner to land him, but he ultimately committed to Rick Pitino and St. John's instead. Now, it looks like that may have been a blessing in disguise. Pitino announced that Freeman had surgery to repair a torn Achilles, and he will miss the 2026-27 season. It's an unfortunate blow for a player who figured to be a starter for Pitino's squad. In making the announcement, the coach was quick to say they expect him back and healthy next year.
Pope and the Wildcats were hoping to bring Freeman in and make him a centerpiece of their offense, but it didn't work out. So, did they catch a break by not getting his commitment?
The injury is a freak one, and could happen to anyone. There's no way to say he would have suffered the same injury if things had gone differently. Still, after what happened last year with Jayden Quaintance, fans are likely breathing a sigh of relief.
We wish Freeman the best in his recovery, and in the future.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: A Kentucky transfer portal miss won't play in the 2026-27 season
Continue reading...
