A player once considered a top transfer target for Kentucky will now be forced to spend the upcoming season on the sidelines.
Former Syracuse standout Donnie Freeman, who ultimately committed to St. John’s over Kentucky during the transfer portal cycle, has been ruled out for the entire 2026-27 season after suffering a non-contact Achilles injury during a workout. The injury required surgery, which was successfully performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley.
St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino confirmed the news, expressing confidence that Freeman will make a strong recovery.
“Donnie had successful Achilles tendon surgery. He suffered a non-contact injury during a workout and will miss the season. Donnie is an awesome young man, and we’ll get him back better than ever,” Pitino said.
The setback is a significant blow for the Red Storm. Freeman was one of the most sought-after players in this year’s transfer portal, ranking No. 19 among transfers according to Rivals.
Before choosing St. John’s, Kentucky aggressively pursued the talented forward. Mark Pope and the Wildcats were viewed as one of the leading contenders for his commitment before Pitino’s late recruiting push secured Freeman’s pledge. After missing out, Kentucky shifted its attention to James Madison forward Justin McBride, who later committed to the Wildcats.
Freeman was coming off an impressive sophomore season at Syracuse, averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 47.4 percent from the field. The 6-foot-9 forward had established himself as one of the ACC’s most productive players and entered the offseason with high expectations.
He is also a member of the Bahamas Men’s National Team, where Kentucky assistant coach Mikhail McLean serves as head coach. Freeman had been participating in the team’s training camp in Miami ahead of its upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifying games when the unfortunate injury occurred.
Achilles injuries have become increasingly common in basketball, and recovery typically requires an extended rehabilitation process. While Freeman is expected to miss the entire 2026-27 campaign, the hope is that he will return fully healthy for the 2027-28 season.
Although Kentucky ultimately landed another transfer after missing on Freeman, the injury is unfortunate news for one of college basketball’s rising stars and leaves St. John’s without one of its expected cornerstones for the upcoming season.
