Austin Freeman has always been economical with words. In the two months since his senior season with Georgetown came to an end, he’s taken the same approach with his physique.
A transformed Freeman worked out for the Wizards on the practice court at Verizon Center on Thursday, his slim-fitting workout jersey tucked into his shorts displaying what he said was a loss of 20 pounds.
Freeman was listed at 235 pounds during in his final year with the Hoyas, and he measured at 226 pounds at the NBA Combine in Chicago two weekends ago.
“Just working hard, just trying to reach my goal,” Freeman said. “I have two-a-days every day, conditioning and basketball workouts.”
Thick shoulders and a solid midsection defined Freeman as a college wing, a small forward who could knock down jump shots and power through defenders to the basket. The Mitchellville native and first Georgetown player from DeMatha in 20 years averaged a team-leading and career-best 17.6 points as a senior despite shooting the lowest percentage (.476) of his four years with the Hoyas.
But at 6-foot-3, Freeman knows he’s more likely to be cast purely as an off guard in the NBA, making better conditioning and lateral quickness absolute requirements, particularly at the defensive end. Freeman said his transformation began when he was diagnosed with diabetes as a junior, forcing him to manage what and how much he ate. The process accelerated this spring when Freeman enlisted the help of conditioning coach Alonzo Ruffin and former New Mexico State guard Chris Cole – the latter, like Freeman, a D.C. Assault AAU alum – to get himself NBA-ready.
“I have to if I want to be able to play in this league,” said Freeman, who has maintained since his diagnosis that his condition does not affect him or his play. “My body is my tool, and I have to take care of it.”
Freeman’s change in appearance also reflects the reality that has changed for a player who was named a McDonald’s All-American as a senior in high school but now is working just to prove to NBA teams that he’s a viable second-round selection.
“Anywhere, as long as I get picked,” Freeman said of where he’s likely to go, “just to be able to come in and help my team win, in any way possible.”
Freeman worked out for the Wizards alongside Illinois forward and Alexandria native Mike Davis (T.C. Williams), Talor Battle (Penn State), Papa Dia (SMU), Justin Hurtt (Tulsa) and Ravern Johnson (Mississippi State).
“It’s different from Champaign, a little old town, just flat hills and nothing really there,” said Davis, a long, athletic forward who averaged 12. 5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game as a senior for the Illini. “Being back in the city and close to home is awesome. There’s nothing like it.”
Davis said he always hoped he would have a chance to play for his hometown team.
“Just turning dreams into reality, hopefully,” Davis said. “It’s one thing I’ve been working for my whole life, and it’s almost here.”
Battle was asked about the departure of his head coach, Ed DeChellis, who bolted for Navy after the Nittany Lions reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in 10 years.
“I totally understood,” said Battle. “He said it was a family decision. I had a great time with Coach D, and I wish him the best at Navy.”
