St. John's forward Donnie Freeman to miss 2026-27 season

St. John's University's men's basketball team suffered a major setback this week as forward Donnie Freeman will miss the entire 2026-27 season due to an Achilles injury. The rising junior, a transfer from Syracuse, sustained the non-contact injury during a workout on Monday and underwent successful surgery on his right Achilles tendon on Wednesday.

Head coach Rick Pitino announced the news, stating that Freeman is an awesome young man and that the program will get him back better than ever. The 6-foot-9 forward was expected to be a starter and a key contributor for the Red Storm after committing to St. John's in April. He was ranked as the 15th-best prospect in the transfer portal this offseason.

Freeman averaged 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds last season at Syracuse, earning honorable mention All-ACC honors. His absence deals a significant blow to a St. John's frontcourt that must replace all three starters from last season: Zuby Ejiofor, Dillon Mitchell, and Bryce Hopkins, who were all selected in the NBA draft last week. Ejiofor was the Big East Player of the Year.

The injury comes as St. John's, ranked eighth in an early preseason poll, was poised to contend for a third...