Bruce Pearl officially announced the addition of transfer guard Elyjah Freeman on Sunday morning.
Freeman, who comes to Auburn from Division II program Lincoln Memorial, reportedly gave his commitment on Saturday. The standout freshman put up impressive numbers in the 2024–25 season, averaging close to 19 points and 9 rebounds per game while dominating at the DII level.
In a statement released Sunday, Bruce Pearl described Elyjah Freeman as a “classic late bloomer” and shared that the newcomer will play a big guard role for the Tigers next season.
“Elyjah Freeman is your classic late bloomer,” Pearl said. “He didn’t get much attention coming out of high school, but then he went to Lincoln Memorial and really made his mark. As a freshman, he became one of the top offensive players in all of Division II. He’s an incredibly hard worker, focused and determined, with a natural feel for the game that you can’t easily teach. He has the size of a forward but will line up as a big guard for us at Auburn. He’s got an amazing mother and a strong support system. Elyjah was one of the most impressive young players we evaluated in the portal this year.”
Freeman was listed at 6-foot-8 during his time at Lincoln Memorial, giving him the ideal blend of size and versatility to defend opposing forwards while contributing as a guard on offense for Auburn next season. He also showcased his sharpshooting ability, knocking down over 45% of his three-point attempts, making him a serious threat from deep.
https://twitter.com/AuburnMBB/status/1913956171494367709?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1913956171494367709%7Ctwgr%5E44b53e2c44328533fa16cd0f6d28abb2380c20ac%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.saturdaydownsouth.com%2Fnews%2Fcollege-basketball%2Fbruce-pearl-calls-elyjah-freeman-a-late-bloomer-after-signing-with-auburn%2F
His arrival could help fill the void left by Chad Baker-Mazara, who made a surprise decision to enter the transfer portal last week. Baker-Mazara had held down the big guard spot for the Tigers and played a significant role in their recent success.
With all five starters from Auburn’s 2025 Final Four squad moving on, the team is undergoing a major roster reset. That opens the door wide for Freeman to compete for a key role and make an immediate impact in the upcoming season.