{{short description|American basketball player and coach}} {{other uses|R. Austin Freeman}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Austin Freeman | image = Austin Freeman jump.jpg | caption = Freeman with Georgetown in 2007 | position = Assistant coach | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lb = 226 | league = MEAC | team = Morgan State Bears | number = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|5|6}} | birth_place = Mitchellville, Maryland, U.S. | high_school = DeMatha Catholic<br/>(Hyattsville, Maryland) | college = Georgetown (2007–2011) | draft_year = 2011 | career_start = 2011 | career_end = 2021 | years1 = 2011–2012 | team1 = Fulgor Libertas Forlì | years2 = 2012–2013 | team2 = Hapoel Eilat | years3 = 2013 | team3 = Maccabi Ashdod | years4 = 2013–2014 | team4 = Iowa Energy | years5 = 2014–2015 | team5 = Upea Capo d'Orlando | years6 = 2015 | team6 = Acea Roma | years7 = 2015 | team7 = Titanes del Distrito Nacional | years8 = 2015–2016 | team8 = Bermè Viola Reggio Calabria | years9 = 2017–2018 | team9 = Cañeros del Este | years10 = 2018–2021 | team10 = San Carlos | coach_start = 2021 | cyears1 = 2021-2024 | cteam1 = DeMatha Catholic HS (assistant) | cyears2 = 2024-present | cteam2 = Morgan State (assistant) | highlights = *First-team All-Big East (2011) *Second-team All-Big East (2010) *Big East All-Freshman Team (2008) *First-team ''Parade'' All-American (2007) *McDonald's All-American (2007) }} '''Austin Mambu Freeman Jr.''' (born May 6, 1989) is an American basketball coach and former player. He is currently an assistant coach at Morgan State University. He played college basketball at Georgetown University.
==High school & college career== Freeman attended DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland until 2007.<ref name=HoyasProfile>{{cite web |url=http://www.guhoyas.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/freeman_austin00.html |title=15 - Austin Freeman |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=GUHoyas.com |access-date=10 August 2015 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024112/http://www.guhoyas.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/freeman_austin00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In his junior year at DeMatha he averaged 17.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, while in his senior year he improved his averages to 23.1 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists per game.<ref name=guide>''2009–10 Georgetown Men's Basketball Media Guide'', 2009, p. 52.</ref> He was selected for the McDonald's All-American Game and for the Jordan Brand Classic in 2007.
He played college basketball with Georgetown, playing in the Big East Conference of the NCAA Division I, from 2007 to 2011.<ref name=HoyasProfile /> Prior to the 2010–11 season, Freeman was named the pre-season Big East Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year. He would not win the end-of season award, though he did make the All-Big East First Team.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/211959/Hansbrough-Wins-Big-Easts-Top-Honor-Melvin-Takes-Rookie-Of-The-Year |title=Hansbrough wins Big East's top honor, Melvin takes Rookie of the Year |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=8 March 2011 |website=RealGM.com |access-date=10 August 2015}}</ref>
==Professional career== Having gone undrafted in the 2011 NBA draft, Freeman signed with Fulgor Libertas Forlì of the Italian second division in July 2011.<ref>[http://www.sportando.net/eng/italy/legadue/29460/fulgorlibertas_forli_signs_rookie_from_georgetown_austin_freeman.html FulgorLibertas Forlì signs rookie from Georgetown Austin Freeman]</ref> He was released by the side in March 2012.<ref>[http://www.sportando.net/eng/italy/lega-adecco-gold/36821/forli-officially-replaces-austin-freeman-with-terrence-roderick.html Forlì officially replaces Austin Freeman with Terrence Roderick]</ref>
Freeman joined the New Orleans Hornets for the 2012 NBA Summer League. In August 2012, he signed with Hapoel Eilat of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.<ref>[http://www.sportando.net/eng/europe/israel/42938/hapoel-eilat-lands-austin-freeman.html Hapoel Eilat lands Austin Freeman]</ref> In January 2013, he left Hapoel and moved to fellow Israeli side Maccabi Ashdod.<ref>[http://www.sportando.net/eng/europe/israel/48677/maccabi-ashdod-signs-austin-freeman.html Maccabi Ashdod signs Austin Freeman]</ref>
He joined the Indiana Pacers for the 2013 NBA Summer League, later re-signing with Maccabi Ashdod. After playing six games, he left the club in mid-November 2013, signing with the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League later that month.<ref>[http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Austin-Freeman/Summary/2155 Austin Freeman Player Profile – RealGM]</ref>
On 27 June 2014, he signed a two-year deal with Upea Capo d'Orlando of the Italian Serie A.<ref>[http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/lega-adecco-gold/124522/orlandina-announces-austin-freeman.html Orlandina announces Austin Freeman]</ref> He left the side to join Acea Roma on 27 February 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.virtusroma.it/austin-freeman-e-un-giocatore-della-virtus-roma/#.VcjTIPntmkp |title=Austin Freeman è un giocatore della Virtus Roma |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=27 February 2015 |website=VirtusRoma.it |access-date=10 August 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=Austin Freeman is a Virtus Roma player |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303103225/http://www.virtusroma.it/austin-freeman-e-un-giocatore-della-virtus-roma/#.VcjTIPntmkp |archive-date=3 March 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the end of the Serie A season, in May 2015, Freeman joined the Titanes del Licey of the Dominican Republic's LNB.<ref>[http://www.sportando.com/en/world/america/161849/austin-freeman-signs-with-titanes-licey.html Austin Freeman signs with Titanes Licey]</ref>
On 6 July 2015, he signed a one-year deal with Bermè Viola Reggio Calabria of the Italian second division Serie A2.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legapallacanestro.com/a2/la-viola-apre-il-mercato-col-botto-ingaggiato-austin-freeman/ |title=La Viola apre il mercato col botto: ingaggiato Austin Freeman! |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=6 July 2015 |website=LegaPallacanestro.com |access-date=10 August 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=Viola opens the transfer season with a bang: Austin Freeman is recruited! |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708160033/http://www.legapallacanestro.com/a2/la-viola-apre-il-mercato-col-botto-ingaggiato-austin-freeman/ |archivedate=8 July 2015 }}</ref>
On November 1, 2016, Freeman was acquired by the Long Island Nets of the NBA Development League,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://longisland.dleague.nba.com/news/long-island-nets-announce-training-camp-roster/|title=Long Island Nets Announce Training Camp Roster|work=NBA.com|date=November 1, 2016|accessdate=November 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104000317/http://longisland.dleague.nba.com/news/long-island-nets-announce-training-camp-roster/|archive-date=November 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> but was waived on November 15 before playing a game for the Nets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://longisland.dleague.nba.com/news/long-island-nets-deactivate-lazar-hayward-due-injury-acquire-j-j-moore-waive-austin-freeman/|title=Long Island Nets Deactivate Lazar Hayward Due To Injury, Acquire J.J. Moore and Waive Austin Freeman|work=NBA.com|date=November 15, 2016|accessdate=November 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121045345/http://longisland.dleague.nba.com/news/long-island-nets-deactivate-lazar-hayward-due-injury-acquire-j-j-moore-waive-austin-freeman/|archive-date=November 21, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In June 2017, he joined the Cañeros del Este of Dominican Republic for the 2017 LNB season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Caneros de La Romana tabs Austin Freeman|url=http://www.latinbasket.com/Dominican-Republic/news/490996/Caneros-de-La-Romana-tabs-Austin-Freeman|accessdate=June 3, 2017|work=Eurobasket.com|date=June 1, 2017}}</ref>
In April 2018, Freeman signed with San Carlos of the Dominican Torneo de Baloncesto Superior (TBS), making his debut on April 27 in an 89–88 win over Mauricio Baez.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurobasket.com/boxScores/Dominican%20Republic/2018/0425_2438_2418.asp|title=Regular Season Round 9: Mauricio Baez - San Carlos 88-89|work=Eurobasket.com|date=April 27, 2018|accessdate=May 5, 2018}}</ref>
===The Basketball Tournament=== Austin Freeman played for Jack Attack in the 2018 edition of The Basketball Tournament. He scored 9 points and had 2 assists in the team's first-round loss to Hall In.
==Coaching career== Freeman became an assistant coach at the conclusion of his playing career, first at DeMatha Catholic, and eventually at Morgan State University in 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://morganstatebears.com/staff-directory/austin-freeman/405| title=Austin Freeman| website=morganstatebears.com| access-date=October 27, 2025}}</ref>
==Personal life== He was born to Austin and Edith (''née'' Bestman) and has a sister named Austina.<ref name=guide /> During his junior year at Georgetown, Freeman was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/03/AR2010030304438.html Austin Freeman of Georgetown has developed diabetes, which shouldn't affect basketball career]</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20150809051036/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gamecent/p/pid/6054675/playerview.html FIBA game center profile] *[http://web.legabasket.it/player/FRE-AUS-89/ Serie A profile] {{in lang|it}} Retrieved 10 August 2015 *[http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Austin-Freeman-1117/ DraftExpress profile] *[https://morganstatebears.com/staff-directory/austin-freeman/405 Morgan State bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Freeman, Austin}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:American expatriate basketball people in Israel Category:American expatriate basketball people in Italy Category:American expatriate basketball people in the Dominican Republic Category:DeMatha Catholic High School alumni Category:Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball players Category:Hapoel Eilat basketball players Category:Iowa Energy players Category:Lega Basket Serie A players Category:Maccabi Ashdod B.C. players Category:McDonald's High School All-Americans Category:Orlandina Basket players Category:Virtus Roma players Category:Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball) Category:People from Mitchellville, Maryland Category:Basketball players from Prince George's County, Maryland Category:Shooting guards Category:American men's basketball players Category:Cañeros del Este players