Kevin Freeman
Height6 ft
Height in7
Weight lb235
Birth dateMarch 3, 1978 (age 48)
Birth placeSpringfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
High schoolPaterson Catholic
(Paterson, New Jersey)
CollegeUConn (1996–2000)
Draft year2000
Career start2000
Career end2010
Years 12000–2001
Team 1Los Angeles Stars
Years 22001
Team 2Tanduay Rhum Masters
Years 32001–2002
Team 3Sutor Basket Montegranaro
Years 42001–2002
Team 4Basket Club Ferrara
Years 52002–2005
Team 5Brisbane Bullets
Years 62004
Team 6Westchester Wildfire
Years 72005–2006
Team 7Aris B.C.
Years 82006
Team 8San Miguel Beermen
Years 92006–2007
Team 9Zhejiang Horses
Years 102007
Team 10Cocodrilos de Caracas
Years 112007
Team 11Leones de Ponce
Years 122007–2008
Team 12Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca
Years 132007–2008
Team 13Andrea Costa Imola
Years 142008
Team 14Cocodrilos de Caracas
Years 152008–2009
Team 15Ángeles de Puebla
Years 162009
Team 16Cocodrilos de Caracas
Years 172009–2010
Team 17Tenerife CB
Years 182009–2010
Team 18Espartanos de Margarita
Years 192010
Team 19Cocodrilos de Caracas
Cyears 12011–2012
Cteam 1UConn (assistant DBO)
Cyears 22012–2018
Cteam 2UConn (DBO)
Cyears 32018–2020
Cteam 3Penn State (assistant)
Cyears 42020–2021
Cteam 4UConn (assistant)
Highlights

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

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 4, 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 Archived 2012-01-12 at the Wayback Machine, 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 Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Accessed November 5, 2011
  4. ^ 2011-12 NBL Media Guide[dead link] page 148, accessed November 5, 2011
  5. ^ AP Reports (November 5, 2011). "Former UConn star Kevin Freeman joins basketball staff". The Boston Herald. Archived March 25, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  6. ^ ESPN (June 4, 2018). "Penn State hires Kevin Freeman as assistant basketball coach". ESPN. Archived November 29, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 4, 2018.