The University of Akron Athletics
Enrique Freeman No. 25 Jersey to be Honored
February 01 | Men's Basketball
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron athletics department is pleased to announce that former men's basketball all-time great Enrique Freeman will have his No. 25 jersey number honored on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, when the Zips host Northern Illinois.
The ceremony will be held prior to the game. All fans will receive 25% off tickets for Enrique Freeman Night. Promo Link: https://tinyurl.com/26hptqj2
Freeman, No. 25, is the 11th player in program history to have his jersey number honored, joining the likes of No. 12 Larry Jenkins, No. 22 Mike Harkins, No. 42 Bill Turner, No. 13 Fritz Nagy, No. 25 Eric McLaughlin, No. 44 Jim Fenton, No. 20 Len Paul, No. 31 Joe Jakubick, No. 55 Alex Adams and No. 24 Romeo Travis.
Freeman represented the Blue and Gold from 2019-24, as the Zips recorded a 109-47 overall record and a 66-26 mark in the Mid-American Conference, which stands as the best five year stretch in program history. He became the first Akron player to be selected in the modern two-round NBA Draft era as the Indiana Pacers drafted Freeman in the second round with the 50th overall pick on June 27, 2024.
During his time at Akron, Freeman earned several accolades, including an AP All-American, a finalist for the Karl Malone Award, a finalist for the Lou Henson Award, to the Lou Henson All-America Team, named to the Lefty Drisell Defensive All-America Team, led the NCAA in FG percentage in 2021-22, finished as the all-time leader in rebounds in Akron history, became just the third player in NCAA history to record 31 double-doubles in a season (2023-24), named MAC Player of the Year, MAC Defensive Player of the Year, 3x All-MAC selection, 4x All MAC Defensive Team Selection, a 2x MAC Tournament MVP, a 2x MAC Tournament Champion and a MAC Regular Season Champion after starting as a walk-on.
The Cleveland native became the seventh Zip to be drafted to the NBA, joining Louis Arko (Syracuse Nationals, 1950), Bill Turner (Golden State Warriors, 1967), Len Paul (Detroit Pistons, 1973), Nate Barnett (Houston Rockets, 1975), Joe Jakubic (Cleveland Cavaliers, 1984) and Marcel Boyce (Phoenix Suns, 1987). In addition, Fred "Fritz" Nagy (Pittsburgh Ironmen, 1947) and Joe Wahl (Philadelphia Warriors, 1948) were selected to the Basketball Association of America that existed for three seasons and merged with the NBA in 1949.
For his career, Enrique ranked first in career rebounds (1,405), second in blocked shots (188), and third in points scored (1,843). He became the sixth Zip to record 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds and the fourth player in program history to score 1,800 or more points.
During the 2023-24 season, Enrique was named the unanimous MAC Player of the Year and became the fifth player in Akron's Division I era to be named to the Associated Press All-America team, joining Len Paul (1971-72), Joe Jakubick (1983-84), Romeo Travis (2006-07) and Isaiah Johnson (2016-17). He was also named a finalist for the Karl Malone Award, the Oscar Robertson award and the Lou Henson award. In addition, he garnered MAC All-Defensive Team honors while being named the MAC Tournament MVP, All-MAC Tournament team, the All-MAC First Team and Preseason All-MAC First Team.
In his fifth season, Freeman led the Zips with 18.6 points, 12.9 rebounds,1.7 blocks and 1.6 assists per game while starting all 35 games. He tied the NCAA single-season record for double-doubles (31), joining Armando Bacot (2022) and David Robinson (1986) as the only players to record this feat. Freeman ranked first in the NCAA for double-doubles (31) and rebounds per game (12.9) and set a program record for most consecutive games with 10 or more points (49).
Freeman set the MAC Tournament record for rebounds (21) and averaged 23.7 points per game. He shot 26-of-39 (.667) from the field, averaged 14 rebounds and four blocks per game to help the Zips claim the MAC Tournament for the fifth time in program history and his second tournament title overall.
In 2022-23 he became the 48th player in Akron history to eclipse 1,000 points, finishing the campaign with 1,191 career points, ranking him 27th all-time in program history. He was named First-Team All-MAC, selected to MAC All-Defensive Team and named First-Team preseason All-MAC. Freeman was fifth in the nation in double-doubles with 19 and led the MAC in rebounds per game (11.2), total rebounds (370), double-doubles (19), and blocks per game (1.24). Starting all 33 games, he averaged 16.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 blocks and 0.6 steals per game.
Enrique ended the 2021-22 season ranked No. 1 the NCAA in Field Goal Percentage, shooting 66.5 percent from the field (175 of 263). He helped lead Akron to the 2022 MAC Tournament Championship while being named the MAC Tournament MVP and the All-MAC Tournament Team. In addition, he was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year and selected to MAC All-Defensive Team as well as the Second-Team All-MAC.
He ranked in the NCAA Top 20 in six categories: No. 4 total rebounds (367), No. 6 rebounds per game (10.8), No. 8 double-doubles (18), No. 9 defensive rebounds per game (7.53) and No. 19 offensive rebounds per game (3.26). He was one of 13 players in the NCAA to average a double-double in points (13.2) and rebounds (10.8). Starting all 34 games, he averaged 13.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.14 blocks per game.
In 2020-21, he was named to the All-MAC Defensive Team while leading the MAC in blocked shots (44 BLK, 1.9 BLK/G) and field goal percentage (.740, 77-of-104) while ranking second in total rebounds (211 REB, 9.2 REB/G) and defensive rebounds (146 REB, 6.3 REB/G). Playing in 23 games while starting 18, he averaged 9.2 rebounds, 7.9 points, 1.9 blocks and 0.3 assists. As a walk on In 2019-20, Freeman was a member of the 2020 regular season championship squad when the season was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Freeman graduated The University of Akron with a bachelor's degree in Communications and earned a MBA.
Enrique Freeman Night at James A. Rhodes Arena ceremony will be held prior to the game. All fans will receive 25% off tickets for Enrique Freeman Night. Promo Link: https://tinyurl.com/26hptqj2
The ceremony will be held prior to the game. All fans will receive 25% off tickets for Enrique Freeman Night. Promo Link: https://tinyurl.com/26hptqj2
Freeman, No. 25, is the 11th player in program history to have his jersey number honored, joining the likes of No. 12 Larry Jenkins, No. 22 Mike Harkins, No. 42 Bill Turner, No. 13 Fritz Nagy, No. 25 Eric McLaughlin, No. 44 Jim Fenton, No. 20 Len Paul, No. 31 Joe Jakubick, No. 55 Alex Adams and No. 24 Romeo Travis.
Freeman represented the Blue and Gold from 2019-24, as the Zips recorded a 109-47 overall record and a 66-26 mark in the Mid-American Conference, which stands as the best five year stretch in program history. He became the first Akron player to be selected in the modern two-round NBA Draft era as the Indiana Pacers drafted Freeman in the second round with the 50th overall pick on June 27, 2024.
During his time at Akron, Freeman earned several accolades, including an AP All-American, a finalist for the Karl Malone Award, a finalist for the Lou Henson Award, to the Lou Henson All-America Team, named to the Lefty Drisell Defensive All-America Team, led the NCAA in FG percentage in 2021-22, finished as the all-time leader in rebounds in Akron history, became just the third player in NCAA history to record 31 double-doubles in a season (2023-24), named MAC Player of the Year, MAC Defensive Player of the Year, 3x All-MAC selection, 4x All MAC Defensive Team Selection, a 2x MAC Tournament MVP, a 2x MAC Tournament Champion and a MAC Regular Season Champion after starting as a walk-on.
The Cleveland native became the seventh Zip to be drafted to the NBA, joining Louis Arko (Syracuse Nationals, 1950), Bill Turner (Golden State Warriors, 1967), Len Paul (Detroit Pistons, 1973), Nate Barnett (Houston Rockets, 1975), Joe Jakubic (Cleveland Cavaliers, 1984) and Marcel Boyce (Phoenix Suns, 1987). In addition, Fred "Fritz" Nagy (Pittsburgh Ironmen, 1947) and Joe Wahl (Philadelphia Warriors, 1948) were selected to the Basketball Association of America that existed for three seasons and merged with the NBA in 1949.
For his career, Enrique ranked first in career rebounds (1,405), second in blocked shots (188), and third in points scored (1,843). He became the sixth Zip to record 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds and the fourth player in program history to score 1,800 or more points.
During the 2023-24 season, Enrique was named the unanimous MAC Player of the Year and became the fifth player in Akron's Division I era to be named to the Associated Press All-America team, joining Len Paul (1971-72), Joe Jakubick (1983-84), Romeo Travis (2006-07) and Isaiah Johnson (2016-17). He was also named a finalist for the Karl Malone Award, the Oscar Robertson award and the Lou Henson award. In addition, he garnered MAC All-Defensive Team honors while being named the MAC Tournament MVP, All-MAC Tournament team, the All-MAC First Team and Preseason All-MAC First Team.
In his fifth season, Freeman led the Zips with 18.6 points, 12.9 rebounds,1.7 blocks and 1.6 assists per game while starting all 35 games. He tied the NCAA single-season record for double-doubles (31), joining Armando Bacot (2022) and David Robinson (1986) as the only players to record this feat. Freeman ranked first in the NCAA for double-doubles (31) and rebounds per game (12.9) and set a program record for most consecutive games with 10 or more points (49).
Freeman set the MAC Tournament record for rebounds (21) and averaged 23.7 points per game. He shot 26-of-39 (.667) from the field, averaged 14 rebounds and four blocks per game to help the Zips claim the MAC Tournament for the fifth time in program history and his second tournament title overall.
In 2022-23 he became the 48th player in Akron history to eclipse 1,000 points, finishing the campaign with 1,191 career points, ranking him 27th all-time in program history. He was named First-Team All-MAC, selected to MAC All-Defensive Team and named First-Team preseason All-MAC. Freeman was fifth in the nation in double-doubles with 19 and led the MAC in rebounds per game (11.2), total rebounds (370), double-doubles (19), and blocks per game (1.24). Starting all 33 games, he averaged 16.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 blocks and 0.6 steals per game.
Enrique ended the 2021-22 season ranked No. 1 the NCAA in Field Goal Percentage, shooting 66.5 percent from the field (175 of 263). He helped lead Akron to the 2022 MAC Tournament Championship while being named the MAC Tournament MVP and the All-MAC Tournament Team. In addition, he was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year and selected to MAC All-Defensive Team as well as the Second-Team All-MAC.
He ranked in the NCAA Top 20 in six categories: No. 4 total rebounds (367), No. 6 rebounds per game (10.8), No. 8 double-doubles (18), No. 9 defensive rebounds per game (7.53) and No. 19 offensive rebounds per game (3.26). He was one of 13 players in the NCAA to average a double-double in points (13.2) and rebounds (10.8). Starting all 34 games, he averaged 13.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.14 blocks per game.
In 2020-21, he was named to the All-MAC Defensive Team while leading the MAC in blocked shots (44 BLK, 1.9 BLK/G) and field goal percentage (.740, 77-of-104) while ranking second in total rebounds (211 REB, 9.2 REB/G) and defensive rebounds (146 REB, 6.3 REB/G). Playing in 23 games while starting 18, he averaged 9.2 rebounds, 7.9 points, 1.9 blocks and 0.3 assists. As a walk on In 2019-20, Freeman was a member of the 2020 regular season championship squad when the season was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Freeman graduated The University of Akron with a bachelor's degree in Communications and earned a MBA.
Enrique Freeman Night at James A. Rhodes Arena ceremony will be held prior to the game. All fans will receive 25% off tickets for Enrique Freeman Night. Promo Link: https://tinyurl.com/26hptqj2
Players Mentioned
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