By Jordan Burton
Dunk.
/dəNGk/
verb
1. score by shooting the ball down through the basket with the hands above the rim.
A definition so simple and vague, but yet so personal. No two dunks are ever really the same.
The names are the same and the general movements are as well, but the funk and flavor cannot be replicated from player to player.
Tyem Freeman was 14 the first time he put down a dunk. The then 5-foot-8 eighth grade thought it was cool. Now, just two years removed, monstrous dunks have become a staple in Freeman’s game and the catalyst for the hype surrounding his recruitment.
“My mind’s made up when I’m about to dunk, especially if I have a chance to dunk on someone, it is going to be hard, no soft dunks,” said Freeman.” I want everyone in the gym to go crazy.”
And he did just that, over and over again throughout the 2016-17 season.
Freeman has a reel nearly eight minutes long of nothing but dunks and no dunk is repeated. I wish that was an exaggeration.
Transition dunks, lobs, and-1s, tip dunks and contested dunks. Literally however you want it, he got it and each dunk was seemingly harder and more emphatic than the previous one.
But here’s the deal—and the reason why there will be several eyes on Freeman throughout the summer—he’s more than just a dunker.
Hillcrest’s sophomore has emerged as one of the best players in Missouri, torching opponents for 19.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.6 blocks a night. While highlighted by dunks—please find his dunk(s) against Kickapoo—fans around the Ozarks have come to realize that Freeman has elite potential.
He’s proven the ability to create for others as well as himself, combo guard skills that he hopes to continue to develop this summer, in addition to wreaking havoc defensively. Freeman shot 47 percent from the field and 34 percent from 3, but he believes he must continue to become a consistent shooter for his game to reach his expectations.
“I need to continue to work on my guard skills this summer, but I have to become a better shooter,” said Freeman. “It will help expand my game. I don’t want to be known as just a slasher, I want to be a shooter as well.”
Powered by a string of strong performances on the circuit last summer with MOKAN Elite, Freeman’s star has just begun its ascent.
Missouri, Nebraska, Wichita State and Creighton have all shown interest, with the Tigers, as well as Wake Forest, being Freeman’s two real dream schools.
A dream that could become a reality with his program’s history.
MOKAN Basketball has helped groom elite prospects like Michael Porter Jr., Trae Young and Semi Ojeleye in recent years. The program currently has a pair of Rivals 100 recruits in Jontay Porter and Roman Wilson.
Rumors have swirled that Freeman might opt to transfer away from Hillcrest, something he considered but decided against citing the his relationship with budding head coach Joel Brown and the opportunity to create his own name at Hillcrest.
“Coach Brown is a very big reason for me staying at Hillcrest,” said Freeman. “He’s a great guy to have by my side, coaching me and getting me better. I want to be a leader for this program. I want be known as the best player to come from Hillcrest so you can say I’m trying to build my own legacy.”
That legacy will continue this summer.
MOKAN Elite 16U team has multiple players with D-1 offers already. Freeman wants to join that list and for that to happen he believes his team will need to win.
“We have high expectations,” said Freeman. “We believe we have a big-time team that plays unselfish basketball and plays with a lot of passion. We think we can be a special group. I feel like I’m lucky to have such a great opportunity.”
