MAC Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

21. Enrique Freeman

Freeman has been an important piece of Akron’s recent success, and this 6’7 forward has been a dominant force in the Zips’ frontcourt. A native of nearby Cleveland, Freeman arrived on campus back in 2019 but barely saw the court during his freshman season before the pandemic. For these last three seasons, he’s been a significant piece for the Zips, and you’ll see just why.

He developed into a top-notch rebounder for the Zips, nearly averaging double-digit rebounds in his sophomore season, his first as a starter. He’d achieve that goal the next two seasons, averaging 13.2 points and 10.8 rebounds as a junior, including 23 points against Kent State in the MAC Tournament title game. Freeman helped lead the Zips to the 2022 NCAA Tournament and then put up even better statistics as a senior, further cementing himself as a great scorer and elite rebounder.

Freeman was among the national leaders in rebounding in those final two seasons, but he wasn’t a one-trick pony. He was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year as a junior and earned Tournament MVP honors just a week later, helping push the Zips into the Big Dance. He’d later add First Team All-MAC honors as a senior and his work isn’t done yet. Freeman will be back next season and look to build on an already sensational career.