Rick Barnes and his coaching staff are continuing to look for talented players in the 2019 cycle, and the summer evaluation period is now over. Now UT’s coaches are reconvening and sending out offers to players who stood out to them this summer. They already extended an offer to a top-100 overall power forward on Friday, and later that day they also offered a four-star center in the 2019 class.
Zach Freemantle is a power forward/center from New Jersey who started gaining traction this summer. And according to Pat Lawless, the senior basketball editor for PrepHoops.com, Tennessee is just the latest school to offer Freemantle.
Zach Freemantle, a class of 2019 PF from the NJ Playaz, just picked up an offer from Tennessee.
— Pat Lawless (@PatLawless_) August 4, 2018
According to 247Sports, Freemantle is the No. 138 overall player and No. 23 center in the 2019 class. The 6-foot-9, 220-pound center has added offers from Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, VCU, Penn State, and Xavier over the last month. During the month of July, he made a name for himself and improved his standing with high major schools. He also holds offers from Princeton, St. Joe’s, Northwestern, and Boston College.
According to Evan Daniels of 247Sports, Freemantle was one of a handful of players during the month of July who were considered a “breakout star” on the summer circuit.
“It’s been a good month for Freemantle, a 6-foot-9 post player,” Daniels wrote. “He was effective at the Nike Peach Jam early in the month and his played exceeded that in Las Vegas. A tough, physical kid, Freemantle has a good motor, rebounds well, and has touch shots around the basket. He also showed an ability to make mid-range jump shots. Freemantle’s play will surely upgrade his recruitment, as he’s developed into a high major player.”
There’s not much film online of Freemantle, but what little film exists backs up Daniels’ assessment. Freemantle is a superb defender and has a variety of ways he can score. He doesn’t just score down low; he can make jump shots as well. He’s not quite as much of a stretch-four as other forward/center types UT’s coaches have offered, but he has an extremely high motor and plays with an intensity you like to see from post players.
According to NorthJersey.com, Freemantle averaged 18.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 steals as a junior for Bergen Catholic School. He was also one of just three underclassmen to be chosen as first-team All-Bergen County by coaches last season.
The Vols are hoping to add at least two more players to their 2019 class, and they’re attempting to make one of those additions another forward/center player. Tennessee currently has two players committed in their 2019 class, and those commitments belong to three-star forward and Bearden standout Drew Pember and three-star forward Davonte Gaines.
