Former Auburn forward Elyjah Freeman will stay in the SEC and play in a different shade of orange at Texas next season, he announced on Sunday.
Freeman entered the transfer portal after just one season on the Plains, in which he averaged 9.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 38 games, 21 of which he started.
The former Division II player was crucial during Auburn’s run to the NIT title, playing all 40 minutes in both the second-round win against Seattle and the quarterfinal win over Nevada. In those two games, he combined for 34 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
Elyjah Freeman joins SEC rival Texas
The move comes as somewhat of a surprise, as Freeman said he was “locked in” with the Tigers following the NIT title victory, a 92-86 overtime win against Tulsa, but entered the transfer portal several days later. He was also a player that Steven Pearl was hoping would return for a second year under his tutelage.
“I would love for him to be here next year because he’s going to be a really good player,” Pearl said. “I’m just proud of him for continuing to step up and show what he’s capable of.”
Even when Freeman wasn’t scoring during the NIT run, he was active on the boards, bringing down 10 rebounds in the first-round victory over South Alabama.
“The last two games, he’s done a great job of taking advantage of the opportunity. I’m glad that we have a week, eight days, before the next game,” Pearl said. “He’s been great. I got on him a couple of times defensively, but part of it is because he’s probably just really tired out there, and he gets caught standing up, but 15 points, and I loved a lot of the aggressive drives he made.”
Freeman joins a Texas team that made a run to the Sweet 16, falling to No. 2-seed Purdue 79-77.
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