A former Kentucky portal target is transferring into the SEC

Before the 2024-25 season could even end, Kentucky was reaching out to Division II standout transfer Elyjah Freeman. A 6-foot-8 freshman power forward, Freeman averaged 18.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game at Lincoln Memorial University. He quickly became one of the top available portal prospects upon entry and started to hear from big-name schools.

But Kentucky’s interest didn’t advance any further than the original contact. One of the Wildcats’ top rivals, Tennessee, emerged as the early frontrunner. Freeman visited the Volunteers — where he was seen eating at Cracker Barrel in Middlesboro, KY, with head coach Rick Barnes — along with Indiana and Auburn.

Breakfast must not have gone over well, though; Freeman committed to Auburn on Saturday afternoon. He shot 45.6 percent (26-57) from deep across 31 games played in 2024-25.

BREAKING: Auburn has landed a commitment from top D2 transfer Elyjah Freeman, he told @On3sports.

The 6-8 freshman small forward averaged 18.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game this season, shooting 57% from the field and 46% from three. https://t.co/fD8g2jxkdh pic.twitter.com/ZEvkIrsdgF

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 19, 2025

Coming off a run to the Final Four, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl is reloading his roster this offseason. He’s losing some key pieces, such as Johni Broome (graduation) and possibly Chad Baker-Mazara (transfer), but he’s bringing back star freshman Tahaad Pettiford and has now added four portal pieces: Freeman (No. 83 ranked transfer), SF Keyshawn Hall (No. 24), PF KeShawn Murphy (No. 43), and SG Kevin Overton (No. 158). The Tigers should once again be one of the better teams in the SEC next season.

Meanwhile, Tennessee’s situation is a bit murkier at this (still early) stage in the offseason. The Volunteers lost several key pieces from last season’s Sweet 16 team and have only added two transfers in PG Ja’Kobi Gillespie (No. 10) and PF Jaylen Carey (No. 104). But Tennessee does appear to be the favorite to land five-star high school recruit Nate Ament. It’s still a bit early to judge how this roster will look come the fall.

Kentucky Basketball 2025-26 Roster Tracker

COMMITS (5)

• Kam Williams – G – Tulane – 9.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 48.5% FG, 41.2% 3PT | Committed 3/28
• Jaland Lowe – G – Pittsburgh – 16.8 PPG, 5.5 APG, 4.2 RPG, 37.6% FG, 26.6% 3PT | Committed 4/5
• Mouhamed Dioubate – F – Alabama – 7.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.1 APG, 61.7% FG, 46.2% 3PT | Committed 4/7
• Jayden Quaintance – F – Arizona State – 9.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.6 BPG, 52.5 FG% | Committed 4/8
• Andrija Jelavic – C – Mega Basket — 10.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.4 APG, 50.3% FG, 32.3% 3PT | – Committed 4/12

RETURNING / INCOMING (7)

• Otega Oweh – G – Rising Senior – 16.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 49.2% FG, 35.5% 3PT | Going through NBA Draft process
• Brandon Garrison – C – Rising Junior – 5.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 50.9% | Confirmed return on 4/12
• Collin Chandler – C- Rising Sophomore – 2.7 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.7 APG, 36.1% FG, 34.7% 3PT | Confirmed return on 4/17
• Travis Perry – PG – Rising Sophomore – 2.7 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.6 APG, 31.3% FG, 32.1% 3PT
• Trent Noah – F – Rising Sophomore – 2.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.4 APG, 45.1% FG, 33.3% 3PT | Confirmed return on 4/18
• Malachi Moreno – C – Incoming Freshman – Great Crossing (Georgetown, KY)
• Jasper Johnson – SG – Incoming Freshman – Overtime Elite (Lexington, KY)

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