Kevin Freeman (basketball)

Kevin Freeman (born March 3, 1978) is a retired American basketball player and currently an assistant coach for the UConn Huskies. Freeman played professionally for eleven years in several countries and as a collegian was a starter on UConn's first NCAA championship team.

Kevin Freeman
UConn Huskies
PositionAssistant coach
LeagueBig East Conference
Personal information
Born (1978-03-03) March 3, 1978
Springfield, Massachusetts
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High schoolPaterson Catholic
(Paterson, New Jersey)
CollegeUConn (1995–2000)
NBA draft2000 / Undrafted
Playing career2000–2010
PositionPower forward
Career history
As player:
2000–2001Los Angeles Stars
2001Tanduay Rhum Masters
2001–2002Sutor Basket Montegranaro
2001–2002Basket Club Ferrara
2002–2005Brisbane Bullets
2004Westchester Wildfire
2005–2006Aris B.C.
2006San Miguel Beermen
2006–2007Zhejiang Horses
2007Cocodrilos de Caracas
2007Leones de Ponce
2007–2008Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca
2007–2008Andrea Costa Imola
2008Cocodrilos de Caracas
2008–2009Ángeles de Puebla
2009Cocodrilos de Caracas
2009–2010Tenerife CB
2009–2010Espartanos de Margarita
2010Cocodrilos de Caracas
As coach:
2011–2012UConn (assistant DBO)
2012–2018UConn (DBO)
2018–2020Penn State (assistant)
2020–presentUConn (assistant)
Career highlights and awards

College career

Freeman, a 6' 7" power forward from Paterson Catholic High School in Paterson, New Jersey but also played at Longmeadow High School in Massachusetts, played collegiate basketball at the University of Connecticut for Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun. He started for the majority of his four years there. As a junior in the 1998–99 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Freeman averaged a career-high 12.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He led the Huskies to a Big East Conference tournament championship, and was named the tournament Most Valuable Player.[1] Connecticut then went on to win the 1999 NCAA Basketball Tournament, with Freeman gaining All-West Regional honors to get the Huskies to the Final Four.

Following the Huskies' championship year, Freeman was named to the USA men's basketball team at the 1999 World University Games in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. He played in all eight contests, averaging 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game as Team USA won the Gold Medal.[2]

Freeman returned to Storrs as Husky co-captain for his senior season, averaging 11.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Kevin Freeman left UConn with 1,476 points and 913 rebounds, and graduated as the school's all-time leader in games played with 140.[3]

Professional career

Following the close of his college career, Freeman began a far-reaching professional career that led him to play in the Philippines, Greece, Italy, Argentina, China, Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico, South Korea and Venezuela. Some of his best work came in the National Basketball League of Australia as a member of the Brisbane Bullets. Freeman was a big scorer in the league, including finishing top five in scoring for the 2003–04 season (22.3 points per game).[4]

Coaching career

After retiring from basketball, Freeman turned to coaching. He was named to Jim Calhoun's staff just prior to the 2011–12 season as Assistant Director of Basketball Operations.[5] On June 4th, 2018, Penn State Head Coach Patrick Chambers announced that Freeman was joining the staff as an assistant coach.[6] On September 2, 2020 head coach Dan Hurley announced that Kevin Freeman was coming home to be an assistant basketball coach for the UConn Huskies men's basketball program.

References
  1. 2011-12 Big East men's basketball media guide page 135, accessed November 5, 2011
  2. Twentieth World University Games - 1999 Archived 2012-04-24 at the Wayback Machine, accessed November 5, 2011
  3. 2011-12 UConn Historical Supplement, Accessed November 5, 2011
  4. 2011-12 NBL Media Guide page 148, accessed November 5, 2011
  5. AP Reports (November 5, 2011). "Former UConn star Kevin Freeman joins basketball staff". The Boston Herald. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  6. ESPN (June 4, 2018). "Penn State hires Kevin Freeman as assistant basketball coach". ESPN. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
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