Syracuse F Donnie Freeman resumes basketball activities

Field Level Media|published: 05/02/2025, 12:42pm EDT

Dec 28, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange forward Donnie Freeman (1) passes during the first half against the Bucknell Bison at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Syracuse forward Donnie Freeman has resumed basketball activities following a season-ending injury to his right foot.

Not only is he back on the court and "100 percent" healthy, he also has grown an inch to 6-foot-10, according to Orange coach Adrian Autry.

"He's in the gym," Autry said in a program update on the team's YouTube channel Thursday. "We're easing him along, but everything is fine. He made a clean recovery and we're really excited."

Freeman averaged 13.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 14 games (13 starts) before his 2024-25 freshman season ended on Jan. 4 in a game against Florida State. He had surgery in mid-February and spent the rest of the season on the bench in a walking boot.

Freeman arrived from IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) as the highest-ranked recruit in more than two decades. The five-star prospect was ranked No. 13 nationally and No. 3 among power forwards by the 247Sports composite.

"We haven't seen his best basketball," Autry said. "I know going into next year he will start off so much further ahead. Not only from just playing but being able to learn. We've got this whole summer. I'm so excited for him."

--Field Level Media