Texas landed another significant transfer portal victory on Sunday and once again, it came at the expense of an SEC rival.
Former Auburn forward Elyjah Freeman has committed to join Texas under head coach Sean Miller. The 6-foot-8 wing revealed his decision on Instagram and will bring two remaining years of eligibility to the Longhorns.
For Texas, the pickup is a major win. For Auburn, it stings.
Freeman started 21 of Auburn’s 38 games last season, his debut year with the Auburn Tigers men’s basketball, and averaged 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in nearly 27 minutes per game. He also led the team with 29 steals. Throughout the year, he flashed his potential dropping 21 points in a November win over Wofford Terriers men’s basketball, posting 14 points and 5 assists a week later, scoring 19 off the bench in mid-December, and recording a career-best 27 points in a win over Queens Royals men’s basketball.
Auburn coach Steven Pearl praised Freeman in March, saying he wanted him back because he would develop into “a really good player,” after Freeman dropped 15 points and played all 40 minutes in a victory over Nevada Wolf Pack men’s basketball.
Following Auburn’s NIT championship, Freeman publicly stated he was “locked in” with the Tigers.
Five days later, he entered the transfer portal.
Freeman began his college career at Lincoln Memorial University, where he starred as a freshman at the Division II level. In 28 starts, he posted 18.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists and earned South Atlantic Conference first-team honors.
He becomes the fourth transfer to commit to the Texas Longhorns men’s basketball this offseason, joining Isaiah Johnson (from Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball), David Punch (from TCU Horned Frogs men’s basketball), and Amari Evans (from Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball).
