After graduation in a few weeks, senior sports management major Anthony Freeman plans to pursue playing professional basketball overseas.
Freeman arrived at Union in 2011.
The American Basketball Association’s Seattle Mountaineers, a semi-professional team in the United States, also asked Freeman to play for that franchise, but he declined.
“I plan [on] practicing with the Salem Sabers ABA team to stay in shape before I head overseas,” Freeman said. “My dream to play for would be the Portland Trailblazers.”
Freeman’s love for basketball began at a young age. He started playing when he was in a recreational league in third grade for Tigard School District in Portland, Ore.
When he entered sixth grade, he began playing competitively in the Three Rivers Conference, a middle school city league that participates in Amateur Athletic Union youth league national tournaments.
Freeman went to Tualatin High School in Portland where he played basketball for the Tualatin Timber Wolves for four years. In 2008 and 2009, Freeman and his team won back-to-back league titles.
He also played for the Oregon Lords Amateur Athletic Union basketball team throughout high school.
In his senior year, Freeman was named McDonald’s All-American nominee.
From there, Freeman went on to play basketball at the collegiate level for the Chemeketa Community College Storm in Salem, Ore. While at Chemeketa, Freeman helped his team achieve the 2010 league title.
The team was also named second in the North West Athletic Association for Community Colleges in that year.
In his second season at Chemeketa, Freeman scored 13.5 points and averaged 9.5 rebounds per game.
He played there for two years before beginning his career at Union as a power forward from 2011-2013.
While at Union he received the first team All-Region award and the All-American Honorable Mention.
Freeman has enjoyed his time playing at Union and has impressive things to say about his experience.
“Throughout my time at Union, I have been held accountable, learned to play together as a team and had the opportunity to excel in something,” Freeman said.
Freeman said he also enjoyed his teammates and the atmosphere of the basketball games that took place in the Fred DeLay gymnasium.
“I love my teammates and, of course, Buddy the Bulldog,” Freeman said.
Freeman did not play basketball this year as he finished his degree at Union because he has played four collegiate years of basketball.
He has continued to practice with the team and plays pick-up basketball games whenever he gets the chance.
Freeman’s final overseas destination is yet to be decided.
