Zach Freemantle Scouting Deepdive
After missing the entire 2023-24 season, Xavier's star forward is primed to make an All-American comeback
A question I’ve long struggled with as a basketball talent evaluator is, “How good does an injury prone player need to be to outweigh the risk of drafting them in the first place?” Every year, a number of prospects force evaluators to formulate some sort of temporary answer to this question so they can properly determine where said prospects should/could be drafted. Today, I want to cover Xavier graduate senior Zach Freemantle, who didn’t play a single game last season due to an injury he faced at the end of the previous year. However, he has proven that when he’s on the floor he’s one of the best forwards in the country, and at this point I am convinced that a complete and healthy season would be enough to warrant him being considered a top collegiate target for professional organizations. Let’s break down his game and figure out how he could make a difference for an NBA team down the road.
Player Profile:
Zach Freemantle is a 6’9” and 225lb power forward from Teaneck, New Jersey. He played his high school basketball for Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, NJ, where he would go on to become a four-star recruit and a top 100 player in his class. He put up averages of 17 points per game, 10.5 rebounds, and 2 blocks, numbers that would earn him just about every award the state of New Jersey had to offer as well as Bergen Catholic’s first state championship since 2002. He would receive offers from Tennessee, Saint Joseph’s, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, Minnesota, and of course Xavier, where he would commit to play and where he is still enrolled.
Freemantle had a solid freshman season for the Musketeers, being named to the Big East All-Freshman team by the end of the season. However, it wasn’t until his sophomore season when he would take his first real leap. He cemented himself as one of the best players in the Big East, putting up averages of 16.1 points per game, 8.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, .9 blocks, and .7 steals on shooting splits of 51.4% from the field, 32.1% from beyond the arc, and 59.4% from the free-throw line. That fantastic sophomore campaign was shortened due to several COVID-19 postponements and an early loss in the Big East tournament.
He returned for his junior season, when a change in role, team playstyle, and number of minutes led to a worse statistical year for Freemantle. Despite him having several great performances throughout the year, he couldn’t find consistency. He finished the year with averages of 10.4 points per game, 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, .7 blocks, and .9 steals on poor shooting splits of 47.1% from the field, 26.1% from beyond the arc, and 65.7% from the free-throw line. Xavier walked away from the season as NIT champions, and Freemantle headed into his true senior season looking to bounce back.
Bounce back is exactly what he did in his fourth season, posting averages of 15.2 points per game, 8.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, .7 blocks, and .9 steals on career high shooting splits of 58.5% from the field, 63.6% from beyond the arc (limited volume), and 65.3% from the free throw line. He once again found himself as one of Xavier’s primary offensive options and began to evolve his game in the process. He became a playmaking hub and lessened his outside shot volume to better his overall efficiency. Everything was going great until a foot injury in late January sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He would eventually have to undergo surgery for this injury, a surgery that would force him to sit out the entire 2023-24 season.
Interior Scoring:
Something you’ll realize very quickly when reading about or watching Freemantle is that he has a very unorthodox shot diet. Not a bad shot diet, but one that you wouldn’t expect from a modern-day power forward. Let’s look at his interior scoring game first, where he primarily operates as an opportunistic scorer, taking what is presented to him.
The three clips above do a good job of illustrating how Freemantle finds his interior scoring opportunities. Rarely does he create his own offense inside, but something such as attacking a closeout is probably about as close as he’ll get to doing so. He does create rim pressure but is at his best either moving off of the ball or creating offense in the mid-range. That said, he’s a far more finesse-based player than his peers, and he’s able to use this skillset when attacking the rim. You can see that in the third clip where he beats a smaller defender not by using size and strength but by putting the ball on the floor and beating him off the dribble.
He’s an incredibly efficient scorer when he receives a pass under or above the rim. While he is solid attacking from the perimeter, he will occasionally turn the ball over or take a bad shot due to a lack of composure when handling the ball. That isn’t something he has to worry about in situations such as these, as he can either plant his feet and create shots using his deep bag of post moves or simply go up for a lob dunk. He’s a very smart player who constantly moves when he doesn’t have the ball, looking for opportunities such as these that the defense isn’t necessarily prepared for.
For a power forward, Freemantle is excellent in the open court, getting out in transition as if he were a wing. He’s not the most athletic big in the world, but he can pick up some speed when he needs to. This trait often leads to easy offense, and what truly separates him from his peers is that he can create this offense as both the ball handler and the play finisher. The clip above may be the best example of how good of a finisher he is around the rim, as he’s able to convert the layup through traffic while moving at full speed. That’s not something most forwards are capable of doing, but because he has built his game on finesse and skill, it’s something he has gotten proficient at.
When he does decide to attack the rim instead of working in the mid-range it’s normally because the opportunity presents itself. Here he’s matched up against Johni Broome, one of the best defenders in all of college basketball. Once Broome commits to his right shoulder, Freemantle calls his bluff and spins baseline to attack the rim inside. In most cases this would result in a Broome rejection, but Freemantle immediately throws his body into Broome to move him away from the basket and make blocking the shot nearly impossible. This is a great example of how he can use his strength to create easier offense for himself around the rim.
In-Between Game:
I rarely get to really dig into a player’s in-between game, and that’s mostly because players today don’t rely on it as a primary part of their game. Today that all changes, because Freemantle is at his best from this part of the floor. In most cases that’s a negative, for we have universally agreed that this is the least efficient type of offense...that is unless you make it efficient. We normally see this phenomenon from other-worldly pull-up shooters such as Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Chris Paul, and we very rarely see it occur in college basketball. However, Freemantle is challenging the status quo by founding his game in the mid-range and has been very successful in doing so.
That jumper looked pretty good huh? A quick catch-and-release over one of the best shot blockers in the country...and cash. So why do I only have one clip of Freemantle taking this shot. You tell me. I have no idea why he doesn’t take more of these shots. Sure, he may feel more comfortable taking the hook and push shots we’re about to talk about, but I believe taking more of these shots to further diversify the best part of his game would be a smart move for his long-term outlook as an all-around scorer.
It’s attempts like these that make up the majority of Freemantle’s shot diet from this part of the floor. He’s incredibly consistent and efficient on push and hook shots and can make them from a myriad of ranges and angles. He also knocks them down with both hands, something that is incredibly important if he wants to depend on these shots as heavily as he does. Shots like these are virtually unblockable, so if he is making them at the rate we’ve seen from him thus far in his career I see no reason why he shouldn’t keep taking them.
What happens when Freemantle is forced to operate under pressure from this part of the floor? Is he capable of creating offense off the dribble? I think he handles pressure and tough defense exceptionally well for a big. Remember that I said he has a skill-based game, which strengthens his ability to pull off plays such as the two above. He’s a solid finisher with great touch from this part of the floor, and this translates whether he’s spinning through traffic, finishing through contact, or moving with pace. These aren’t traits that similar players typically possess, which is why I’m comfortable considering Freemantle a real scoring prospect despite him operating primarily from a part of the floor that most evaluators would say he should shy away from.
Outside Shooting:
I’d argue that the three-point shot is the strangest aspect of Freemantle’s game, mostly because he has changed drastically as an outside shooter throughout his time in college. He came in as a low-volume shooter on decent efficiency, then turned into a solid volume shooter on below average efficiency, then had an awful third year shooting from deep, and then went back to shooting low volume but this time on incredible efficiency. Because of these waves and valleys, I really don’t know how to evaluate him as a three-point shooter. That said, he’s definitely capable of knocking down the three, so let’s work from there.
I’m sure you’re shocked to hear that Freemantle’s perimeter shooting diet isn’t made up of off the dribble pull-ups and step-backs. That’s right, he’s a catch-and-shoot/pick-and-pop operative from beyond the arc, and that’s all. This doesn’t particularly bother me, but it should be noted that this does mean his ceiling as a shooter is relatively low. Even if he does increase his volume while maintaining solid efficiency, he’s still going to be relying on his teammates to create these looks for him.
With that said, attempts like the one above show me that he can take a few more threes per game on solid splits. After setting the pick and receiving the pass while on the move, he sets his feet and puts up the three over the outstretched arm of the opposing center. His mechanics aren’t incredibly fluid, but they're not horrible and they seem to be replicable for him. I think he could take a jump as an outside shooter this season and hope that he’ll be considered a reliable stretch big heading into draft season.
Playmaking & Passing:
Speaking of taking jumps, Freemantle made a significant jump as a playmaker during his true senior season. He more than doubled his assist average while maintaining a positive assist-to-turnover ratio (barely) and showed legitimate signs that he could be a true offensive hub. Passing big men are at a premium in today’s game, and if he can cement himself as one, his draft stock is going to rise exponentially.
Keeping your head up and consistently hitting open shooters for long range looks is a must if a frontcourt player wants to be a primary or secondary playmaker. While it may not be flashy, it could be argued that this is the most efficient type of offense. Whether it be on kick outs from the post or while driving to the hoop, Freemantle has shown that he’s willing and able to make these plays on a regular basis.
Something that really intrigued me when studying Freemantle’s film was just how strong his connection with his fellow big is. He proved when playing with fantastic play finishing center Jack Nunge that if you pair him with a skilled big man, he can create a ton of offense for them in the paint. This is an example of why I think he’s better suited for the four than the five, especially from a professional perspective. He will likely see a ton of minutes at the five this season, but it should be noted that he’s at his best when playing the four alongside another talented frontcourt player.
When determining if a big man can be a true playmaking offensive hub, it’s important to look for outlier passing. A lot of them can hit shooters on the perimeter, or throw overhead passes to a seven-footer, but not every power forward is capable of the flashy stuff. Now, hitting a wide-open cutting teammate isn’t necessarily flashy, but it is something you don’t see from a lot of frontcourt players. That said, the second clip above is definitely flashy, and it gives us a glimpse into his passing instincts and heads up feel for the game. At the end of the day what’s most important is that he possesses these intangible traits and will continue to use them to grow as a playmaker.
Defense:
I’m comfortable projecting Freemantle to be a solid offensive player going forward, but defense may very well end up being his biggest swing skill. If he can consistently be an average or slightly above average defender, he could really go far both in his final year at Xavier and when he moves to a higher level of the game. However, there are some real questions surrounding his defensive abilities, and at times he can struggle on this end of the floor. So, what does he need to do to cement himself as a legitimate presence on the defensive end going forward?
One thing you don’t have to worry about with Freemantle is the effort he’s willing to give. He’s almost always giving his all on this end of the court, he just faces issues concerning his athleticism and positional abilities. What I mean by positional abilities is that by playing the four he will need to guard both on the perimeter and interior, and his lack of solid lateral movement hurts him farther from the basket. I’m not worried about his defensive impact near the hoop, but he’s not going to be stationed in the paint as often as he’d probably like to be.
Freemantle is a solid secondary rim protector who utilizes his length and solid timing to deter rim pressure in help. This is by far his strongest defensive trait, as his feel for the game directly translates to his interior instincts. He’s not big or athletic enough to be a primary rim protector, but he’s a trustworthy support piece who, like I said, will always hustle to defend the rim.
Rebounding:
Much like his defense, Freemantle’s rebounding is primarily based on the effort he puts forward. He’s not athletic enough to go up and grab boards over opponents or come up with putback dunks, but he often makes plays simply by being in the mix.
Similar to his interior defense, he relies on his instincts to be an effective rebounder. This is by far the most important thing for me when projecting him to be an impactful rebounder at the next level. He always knows where the ball will come off of the rim, and he’s able to use impressive timing to be in the right spot at the right time more often than not. When he combines these traits with his strength, he becomes a force when cleaning the glass.
The two clips above are great examples of his timing and willingness to, as I said, get in the mix. He does the majority of his rebounding work on the ground instead of around the rim, which one could argue will hurt him at the next level, but I really do think he can still make an impact this way. He is far scrappier and pest-like than most frontcourt players and I think having this mentality goes a long way in supporting him when his natural athleticism hits its ceiling.
Summary:
Before I summarize Freemantle’s game, I want to list out anything that I currently deem to be a weakness in his game. To be fair, we haven’t seen him play in over a year, so who knows if these will still apply for this season, but I’m working with what I know. I always include the disclaimer that every player has weaknesses in their game, but that the best players view them as areas in need of improvement. There’s nothing wrong with having flaws, and I hope to see Freemantle work to better himself in these areas going forward.
I wish he would attack the rim with more ferocity on occasion. He’s capable of driving all the way to the rim, but he often slows up or posts up when he gets there. I’d like to see him press the issue and show off his solid finishing under and around the hoop more often.
His lack of elite vertical athleticism does hurt his game on both ends of the court, but I actually don’t think it’s the biggest deal in the world. Maybe if he lost a little weight, he could get off the ground better, but then he’d be sacrificing some strength, so it’s up to him what’s more important.
He should take more traditional pull-up mid-range jumpers to make his in-between game more versatile. Instead of taking a ton of deep push shots he should take two or three more traditional jump shots per game.
Before settling for his hook shot, he should use his strength and size to get as close to the basket as possible. Sometimes he takes these shots too quickly instead of finding better court position.
His best free-throw shooting season was his freshman season, when he took the fewest free-throws of his career. I’d like to see him sit around 75% from the charity stripe on higher volume this season.
His best-case scenario as an outside shooter is jumping to around three attempts from deep per game on ~38% shooting. I think this is very doable, because in his last healthy season he took one per game on a wildly efficient 63.6% shooting. He has more than enough room to take a drop in efficiency while increasing his volume.
He needs to improve his composure while handling the ball. In his last season he averaged 2.6 turnovers per game, and the majority of those came from dribbling miscues and not bad passes.
Defensively, he really needs to focus on improving his lateral movement and learning how to properly guard wings on the perimeter. If he can improve his perimeter agility, he could become a seriously impactful defender.
When he gets switched onto true centers he can get bullied from time-to-time. He’s not lacking in strength, but he is only 6’9” and doesn’t have the leaping ability to make up for his height disadvantage.
I want to start by saying that I fully expect Zach Freemantle to be one of the best frontcourt players in the country this season. His absence from the college game this past year has led to his name being somewhat scrubbed from All-American conversations, but I don’t think that should be the case. When he was healthy and was given a consistent role, he proved that he’s a dominant force at this level of the game. From a college basketball perspective, there’s no reason (other than injuries, of course) that he can’t be in contention for an All-American nod by the end of the season.
Xavier is going to be very good this season, as they’ve added a very good transfer class to an already experienced core of players. I fully expect Ryan Conwell, the transfer guard from Indiana State, to be a real NBA Draft prospect by the end of the season. That said, Zach Freemantle should be the best player on the team this year. He should be the center of attention on offense, and a solid help defender next to John Hugley on defense. If Sean Miller knows what he’s doing, and I think he does, then this Xavier team has the potential to make a deep NCAA tournament run with Freemantle leading the charge.
From an NBA prospect perspective, Freemantle has a lot to prove before I can confidently say he’s an NBA level player. You just don’t see many high usage, mid-range reliant, limited athleticism power forwards making a name for themselves in the league today. However, his array of skills does suggest that he can fit into a system as a playmaking stretch big who’s capable of getting a bucket if he needs to. He is very skilled for his position, and if he can improve on some of the flaws I listed earlier, he could very well find himself in the league down the road. I don’t consider him a draft guy, mostly because he’ll be 24 on draft night and 25 to start the 2025-26 season, but he will definitely be on a Summer League roster and will be given the chance to prove himself.
All in all, I’m rooting for the guy because I know how hard it must be to have your career derailed the way he has. Him having an All-American season and ending up in the league would be a fantastic comeback story to say the least.