Illinois Basketball: 2023 PF Owen Freeman receives Illini offer

Brad Underwood and the Illinois basketball coaching staff continue to stay aggressive after offering another scholarship to a 2023 power forward.

Owen Freeman is the latest member of the 2023 class to receive a scholarship offer from Illinois.  Freeman announced the news via Twitter Sunday.  The Illini are Freeman’s first offer.

Freeman is a 6-foot-9, 220-pound power forward, who is currently a sophomore at Bradley Bourbonnais Community High School, located in Bradley, Illinois.

The young prospect is not currently ranked on recruiting sites, but that should change as Freeman’s recruitment starts to heat up.  He is, however, ranked the No. 3 prospect for the class of 2023 in the state of Illinois by Illinois Hoop Scene.

During his freshman campaign at BBCHS, Freeman averaged 11.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.  Additionally, he set a school record by shooting 68.2-percent from the field, according to the News-Gazette.

How would Freeman contribute to the Illini?

Freeman’s film is six minutes and fifteen seconds of him dominating his competition — as a freshman.  He is listed as a power forward but is fully capable of playing center or the No. 5 position as well.  The 6-foot-9 prospect is a monstrous presence in the paint both offensively and defensively.

https://twitter.com/_OwenFreeman/status/1241154441593716737?s=20

Nearly all of Freeman’s points come inside the paint, whether it is by dunking (which he does a lot of), a layup, or a hook-shot.  The 2023 power forward is great at scoring through contact, as his film consists of numerous and-ones.

Defensively, Freeman is a great shot blocker.  He is capable of swatting balls from all ranges, whether it’s a three-point shot, a mid-range shot, a block, layup, you name it. Additionally, the Bradley-Bourbonnais forward hauls in rebounds on both ends of the floor and can convert on put-backs.

If the Illini are able to reel the 2023 prospect into Champaign, he would likely primarily play as a No. 4.  He would also get minutes at the No. 5, as we all know Brad Underwood likes to go with the occasional “small ball” lineup.  Either way, Freeman would be a great presence in the paint for the Illini.

The Illini coaching staff may have just discovered a young gem in Owen Freeman.  Don’t be surprised when his recruitment starts to blow up.