Breaking: St. John's Forward Donnie Freeman Out for the Year with a Torn Achilles

Freeman was one of the biggest transfer additions in the Big East this spring.

Photo credit: Syracuse Athletics

St. John’s was dealt a significant blow this week as forward Donnie Freeman tore his Achilles and will miss the 2026-27 season.

Rick Pitino shared the news via X on Wednesday: “Donnie Freeman had successful Achilles tendon surgery performed by Dr. Martin O'Malley. Donnie had a non contact injury in a workout and will miss the season. Donnie is an awesome young man, we will get him back better than ever!”

The Syracuse transfer averaged 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds as a sophomore and he was expected to help offset the significant losses St. John's was attempting to replace in its frontcourt. Zuby Ejiofor, Dillon Mitchell, and Bryce Hopkins were all taken in last week’s NBA Draft, and the versatile Freeman was a surefire starter.

“He’s a legitimate 6’10,” Pitino said of Freeman this spring. “A very gifted offensive player — quite explosive, as well as with great length.”

“Donnie can play the three, four, and five.”

The Washington, D.C. native was considered a top-ten player in the class of 2024 — a McDonald’s All-American who also represented the Bahamas on their national team (Freeman was born in the Bahamas and came to America at age six) alongside Buddy Hield, Deandre Ayton, Eric Gordon, and VJ Edgecombe.

Freeman looked destined for Kentucky this spring after visiting Lexington, but Pitino and the Johnnies swooped in late and got themselves a forward who had produced from the jump (13.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg as a freshman).

Freeman came with injury concerns, however. He played in just 37 of Syracuse’s 65 games over the past two seasons.

He was expected to carry a heavy rebounding load for St. John’s, while adding scoring punch at the rim. His 22.7% Defensive Rebound Percentage was in the 93rd percentile in the country, while he connected on 72% of his shots at the rim, per CBB Analytics.

As a sophomore, Freeman had eight games of 20+ points, had 10+ rebounds four times, and scored a career-high 28 points against Wake Forest.

What’s next for St. John’s?

Pitino and Co. will likely look toward Senegal native Babacar Sane (6’7, 230) to fill in at the four. Sane averaged 9.9 points and 3.8 rebounds in 16.7 minutes per game in Germany’s most competitive league last season. Pitino noted that he can play all three frontcourt positions.

Make no mistake, this is significant news for both St. John’s and the league. Freeman was arguably their biggest offseason addition to a frontcourt already facing a significant overhaul.