After more than a week of waiting with bated breath, the Big Blue Nation released a state-wide exhale when Kentucky officially landed point guard Zoom Diallo out of the transfer portal. Following the Rob Wright debacle at the same position, the Wildcats needed a serious pick-me-up.
Diallo's exciting pledge certainly served that purpose. In the same go, the signing also kicked Kentucky's roster off to the races beyond returning players and a singular freshman commitment. Although, it didn't take Cats fans long to pivot to their next big-name target.
Enter: Donnie Freeman. On the same day that Diallo made his blue-bound decision, Freeman was enjoying his visit own visit in Lexington, evidenced by a post on his Instagram rocking a Kentucky jersey. Like Diallo, Freeman is another class-leading player that would go a long way for Mark Pope's third-year team.
Freeman is Among the Portal's Best
Freeman, who spent the first two years of his collegiate career with the Syracuse Orange, flew up the portal charts the second he entered his name. According to ESPN, the stretch forward is a top 15 player among the 100 ranked on their list.
More than anything else, Freeman's ability to space the floor on offense, exhibiting both a consistent ability to score the ball as well as to find his teammates, is what sets him apart. He's made for a Mark Pope offense, and Kentucky fans posting tirelessly about him online are right to want this thing to happen.
The big's 16 points and seven boards per contest tell most of the obvious story, but averaging just barely below a steal and a block on a game-to-game basis, too, points to Freeman's well-rounded nature in the paint.
A Perfect Fit at Power Forward
Paired with Malachi Moreno, you'd be looking at one of the most dangerous frontcourt pairings in the SEC; that's a balanced attack with weight on both sides of the ball. Much like Diallo in the backcourt, Freeman is truly the perfect fit for Kentucky's opening at power forward.
And, just as Diallo was dubbed a "must get" by eager members of the BBN, so too has Freeman been. With his visit set to extend through today and his status as a priority transfer for Kentucky at a clear peak, the stars are certainly aligning for a final push from Kentucky's staff to land him.
It's no guarantee - the transfer portal has taught us that, if anything - but Freeman's fate being tied to Kentucky blue is far from a far cry.
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