Donnie Freeman talks Rutgers basketball unofficial visit, upcoming official visit(s)

Rutgers men’s basketball hosted four-star Donnie Freeman this week.

Donnie Freeman took an unofficial visit to the Rutgers basketball program this week. It was a successful trip, the four-star said.

A class of 2024 recruit, Freeman is one of the most highly-recruited players in the nation. The 247Sports Composite ranks him as the No. 25 player in the nation.

He is a 6-foot-8 forward at St. John’s (Washington, D.C.). Georgetown, Iowa, Marquette, Maryland, Ole Miss, and Texas along with a Rutgers offer that was extended in mid-June. In mid-August, his most recent offer came in from the ACC via Pittsburgh.

Freeman said the unofficial visit was a positive experience and one that helped him establish a good level of communication with the Scarlet Knights.

“It was good,” Freeman told RutgersWire about his visit. “I spent a lot of time with the coaching staff and got to know everyone and see the campus.”

Freeman has one official visit planned when he will go to Iowa in September.

“Coach McCaffrey is very active with talking to me,” Freeman said. He really likes how I can impact the game in many ways and he loves my long-term potential.”

The relationship with Hawkeyes, he says, is improving and growing stronger.

“(It’s) good and getting better,” Freeman said. “I’m building a good relationship with coach (Fran) McCaffrey and the staff.”

After his recent visit to Rutgers, Freeman seems to have a better connection with the program. In particular, he seems to have forged a positive opinion of head coach Steve Pikiell.

[lawrence-related id=18228]

“I feel good about the school and I really like coach Pikiell,” Freeman said.

“He seems very passionate about the program. And he is really dedicated to the players and program development.”

Pikiell has led Rutgers to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time since 1976.

 

As for other official visits besides Iowa, Freeman has his eyes on a couple of other programs.

[lawrence-related id=18223]

“Right now, Alabama and Texas are in the works and maybe some other schools,” Freeman said.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fc3gzhz7qrm49z6q player_id=none image=https://rutgerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]