RALEIGH - NC State men's basketball head coach Kevin Keatts announced the signing of guard Al Freeman to a financial aid agreement Thursday. Freeman will graduate from Baylor University in May and will join the Wolfpack in the summer.
Freeman has one year of eligibility remaining.
"Al is a wonderful young man and will be a great addition to our team," Keatts said. "I was very impressed with his demeanor and maturity when we had him on-campus and think he will be an excellent leader for our team.
"Al is a big guard that can make plays with the basketball in his hands and can guard all three perimeter positions. His versatility at the guard position will add great value to our roster. He was won a number of college basketball games and brings a lot of positive, winning intangibles to our program."
Freeman started 57 of his 99 career games at Baylor and averaged 8.1 points per game. He connected on 114 three-pointers in his three years as a Bear and shot 37.2 percent from long range. Freeman also accumulated 128 assists and 50 steals in his three years at Baylor and shot 81.4 percent from the foul line.
Last season, Freeman averaged 9.7 points per game and finished second on the team with 44 three-pointers. As a sophomore in the 2015-16 season, Freeman averaged 11.3 points per game and ranked second on the team with 50 three-pointers made while also shooting 85.3 percent from the free throw line. He also averaged 3.4 rebounds per game and passed out 50 assists as a sophomore.
Also excelling in the classroom, Freeman was named second-team Academic All-Big 12 in each of first two seasons at Baylor, becoming fourth player in program history to be honored in consecutive years. He is a three-time Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll member.
Originally from Charlotte, N.C., Freeman attended Olympic High School and averaged 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game as a junior to help lead the Trojans to a 28-2 record. He transferred to Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev., for his senior season and led the Pilots to a 35-1 record and number three national ranking in the USA Today Super 25. A consensus top-100 recruit, he originally signed a national letter of intent to play at UCLA, but was granted a release when UCLA made a coaching change.
Freeman has one year of eligibility remaining.
"Al is a wonderful young man and will be a great addition to our team," Keatts said. "I was very impressed with his demeanor and maturity when we had him on-campus and think he will be an excellent leader for our team.
"Al is a big guard that can make plays with the basketball in his hands and can guard all three perimeter positions. His versatility at the guard position will add great value to our roster. He was won a number of college basketball games and brings a lot of positive, winning intangibles to our program."
Freeman started 57 of his 99 career games at Baylor and averaged 8.1 points per game. He connected on 114 three-pointers in his three years as a Bear and shot 37.2 percent from long range. Freeman also accumulated 128 assists and 50 steals in his three years at Baylor and shot 81.4 percent from the foul line.
Last season, Freeman averaged 9.7 points per game and finished second on the team with 44 three-pointers. As a sophomore in the 2015-16 season, Freeman averaged 11.3 points per game and ranked second on the team with 50 three-pointers made while also shooting 85.3 percent from the free throw line. He also averaged 3.4 rebounds per game and passed out 50 assists as a sophomore.
Also excelling in the classroom, Freeman was named second-team Academic All-Big 12 in each of first two seasons at Baylor, becoming fourth player in program history to be honored in consecutive years. He is a three-time Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll member.
Originally from Charlotte, N.C., Freeman attended Olympic High School and averaged 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game as a junior to help lead the Trojans to a 28-2 record. He transferred to Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev., for his senior season and led the Pilots to a 35-1 record and number three national ranking in the USA Today Super 25. A consensus top-100 recruit, he originally signed a national letter of intent to play at UCLA, but was granted a release when UCLA made a coaching change.
