Javon Freeman Liberty

[ValpoDad89]

Being a DePaul alum and PROUD Valpo dad I can say DePaul basketball is rising. They have a top 10 class (based on verbals) for next season and added some nice transfers. DeWayne Peevey is now the AD (who was Kentucky's assistant AD) who replaces to ultimately incompetent Jean Lenti Ponsetto.

That being said, actions like this are great but only bear fruit on the court. To 2014's point...his uncle has CLOSE TIES TO ILLINOIS AND CHICAGO. While Illinois liked him to be a bench player, with their roster for this year he wasn't going to be in the starting line up and on the fringe of the rotation. Marcus and his sister wanted him featured to expand his exposure. DePaul offered them that and Tim Anderson and Marcus go WAAAAAAAY BACK in their high school days. He was sold. My understanding is Freeman is staying at DePaul for at least a year and playing one even if he's not eligible this season. Now they were told he was certain to get a year but the NCAA ain't stupid. Your're playing 60 miles west for "hardship"...C'mon man!!!!?

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/kreyme8/status/1329096625751515142?s=21
https://twitter.com/goodmanhoops/status/1329154825817387010?s=21

[valpotx]

No word on a waiver, but Depaul had to cancel their first 3 games:

https://depaulbluedemons.com/news/2020/11/19/depaul-to-pause-all-mens-basketball-team-activities.aspx

[VU2014]

I don't know how I feel about this. On one hand I'm happy for Javon but on another this is just a slippery slope for mid-major transfers.

I don't know all the details but it's a suspect hardship waiver process. We're in a weird year but I just don't know if I buy the hard waivers the NCAA has been passing out like candy the last few weeks. Maybe it's COVID relate that they are doing this but the NCAA just continually loosen it's rules that end up hurting mid-majors.

https://twitter.com/nwioren/status/1331648712842616834?s=21

[valpotx]

Agreed, happy for Javon, as I hold no ill will towards him, but this was a sketchy case of using the hardship waiver. 

[bbtds]

Agreed, happy for Javon, as I hold no ill will towards him, but this was a sketchy case of using the hardship waiver. 

The NCAA way of doing things would be to make sure Valpo got punished for Javon asking for a waiver.

[FWalum]

Agreed, happy for Javon, as I hold no ill will towards him, but this was a sketchy case of using the hardship waiver. 

The NCAA way of doing things would be to make sure Valpo got punished for Javon asking for a waiver.

I hope that Javon does well at DePaul. I really don't believe that this move was a legitimate use of the waiver, but I am sure he is just following the advise of his advisors and hopefully has no ill will towards Valpo. I really don't feel that many of these transfers, done to improve a players prospects, has really worked out in the majority of cases. It would be interesting for someone to do an analysis of this strategy.

[valpotx]

Yeah, it is debatable whether Brandon Wood and David Skara increased their pro possibilities by upgrading to Michigan State and Clemson, versus having a more significant role at Valpo.  Those are really the only two cases that might have done such a thing.

[valporun]

Based on the way things are going in the US with Covid, I would believe, since the NCAA blanketed the eligibility situation for this year, giving EVERYONE an additional year, they are tossing out any transfers this year, and just giving those players immediate eligibility too. We will see what happens for JFL this season at DePaul.

[tiny707]

First De Paul game today for JFL...

[talksalot]

EspnU 5pm central

[vu72]

Who?

[FWalum]

This game has also been cancelled.

Still waiting for that first game.    Basically their entire OOC schedule has been cancelled.

[bbtds]

Who?

Jamal Freedom Liberate, right? Wasn't that his name?

[talksalot]

Yup... they open their season ... on the road at Seton Hall at 3:30pm Friday (CT)... maybe...

[valpotx]

JFL with a solid Depaul debut against WIU:

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=401271122

[bbtds]

JFL with a solid Depaul debut against WIU:

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=401271122

Jamal was the leading scorer with 19 points on 8 of 12 FG.

[vu84v2]

JFL with a solid Depaul debut against WIU:

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=401271122

Jamal was the leading scorer with 19 points on 8 of 12 FG.

While it looks like he had a very solid first game, Charlie Moore was their leading scorer with 22 points.

[tiny707]

I watched the De Paul vs WIU game. JFL has definitely bulked up in the weight room. Looked great playing with other good players(Charlie Moore, etc.).

[valpo64]

Watching JFL last night really brought to light how we miss having a good point guard who can also score.  His absence from our lineup is the most glaring weakness for this year's team IMO.

[valpo95]

Watching JFL last night really brought to light how we miss having a good point guard who can also score.  His absence from our lineup is the most glaring weakness for this year's team IMO.

I have no particular ill-will toward JFL, yet his late transfer illustrates the catch 22 for a mid-major coach trying to recruit a team. Recruiting is the lifeblood of college basketball, and it is hard enough to get top recruits. If you were a top recruit playing the same position as JFL, imagine how the conversation goes: "Come to Valpo, and you can sit on the bench for two or three years behind JFL. If he gets injured, or after he graduates, you can step right in." That's why we don't have a one for one replacement. 

[valporun]

It's good to see him playing at a level that really tests his ability. After two years in the MVC, he showed that he could have gone High major fresh out of Whitney Young. He's now at a point where the challenges to his growth are going to bring more rewards at DePaul than they would at Valpo, and he would have left after this season anyway. Now he has 3 years to show what he can do to help his draft status with better competition.

[vu72]

It's good to see him playing at a level that really tests his ability.

Umm, he was playing against Western Illinois.

[vu72]

It's good to see him playing at a level that really tests his ability.

Umm, he was playing against Western Illinois. Against Providence is scored 13, shot 5 of 16 from the floor and 1 of 4 from the 3.

[wh]

I hope the novelty of reporting JFL game results wears off quickly.