After stints at Duquesne and San Diego State, top star had to reset his college basketball journey with a season at Northwest Florida State College in 2022-23. From there, he worked his way back to the Division I level and became a key contributor over two seasons at Auburn, helping fuel the Tigers’ Final Four run last year. Now 25, Baker-Mazara has entered the transfer portal once again, prompting head coach Bruce Pearl to return to the small-school circuit in search of a replacement on the wing.
Pearl secured a commitment from top star, a standout at Division II Lincoln Memorial University. The 6-foot-8 wing brings intriguing tools to the table—averaging nearly 20 points per game while showcasing a smooth shooting stroke from deep, athleticism, and the ability to attack the basket. Still, Freeman represents a bit of a gamble as Pearl’s fourth addition via the transfer portal this offseason.
Auburn adds D2 wing Elyjah Freeman to transfer portal class
After guiding Auburn to just its second Final Four in school history, Bruce Pearl now faces the challenge of replacing his entire starting lineup. Chad Baker-Mazara was the final key departure, and while several newcomers could potentially fill his shoes, Elyjah Freeman might be the most natural fit. UCF transfer Keyshawn Hall brings polished scoring ability from the left side at 6-foot-8, and freshman Kevin Overton offers strong defensive instincts with streaky shooting, but Freeman’s skill set seems best suited to step into Baker-Mazara’s role. That said, his success is far from guaranteed.
Freeman earned his move to a higher level after a standout season at Division II Lincoln Memorial, but jumping from D2 to the SEC is a major leap. Auburn experienced similar growing pains last season after bringing in JP Pegues from Furman (Southern Conference), expecting him to lead at point guard. However, Pegues was benched shortly after the Maui Invitational and struggled for playing time the rest of the season.
The SEC poses a unique challenge, particularly after a 2023-24 season in which 14 of 16 teams reached the NCAA Tournament. Freeman does bring better physical tools—unlike the undersized Pegues at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds—but that doesn’t mean he’ll avoid the adjustment curve, especially early on.
Still, the upside is there. Freeman could thrive with the superior development resources and coaching Auburn provides. There’s precedent, too—Bennett Stirtz made the leap from D2 Northwest Missouri State to Drake and earned All-American honorable mention as a freshman. Now he’s expected to shine at Iowa in the Big Ten. Even in the SEC, players like Dalton Knecht (Tennessee via Northern Colorado) and Chaz Lanier (Tennessee via North Florida) proved small-school transfers can become key players for contenders.
Baker-Mazara himself had a winding path, arriving at Auburn from a junior college. So while it may take time for Freeman to adjust, the Tigers are betting that his high ceiling makes the risk worthwhile.