Javon Freeman Liberty

vu84v2 · October 27, 2023, 08:38:39 AM

I, for one, would like to see another former Valpo player in the NBA....even if he transferred out and, when doing so, gave mixed messages.

JD24 · October 27, 2023, 12:26:30 PM

Quote from: vu84v2 on October 27, 2023, 08:38:39 AMI, for one, would like to see another former Valpo player in the NBA....even if he transferred out and, when doing so, gave mixed messages.

One who'll be identified as a DePaul grad.

FWalum · October 27, 2023, 01:05:17 PM

If I remember correctly, Javon still had a relationship with the former coaching staff and was welcomed back occasionally. If we can use that to our advantage in any way, I have no problem with supporting him.

tiny707 · October 27, 2023, 02:56:14 PM

His Raptors jersey should be hung at Hilltop next to Bryce, Alec and Ryan's.

Chairback · October 27, 2023, 04:09:07 PM

Then we should hang up Donovan Clay's euro jersey too once he signs.

tiny707 · October 27, 2023, 04:23:03 PM

If Donovan makes NBA hang his jersey too at Hilltop.

David81 · November 01, 2023, 09:09:05 AM

JFL's transfer taught us a painful lesson about the influence of the transfer portal and the status of VU's MBB program. Alt sports histories are concededly fueled by fantasy, but if he stays, a veteran Valpo squad led by him, Krikke, and Clay is pretty cool to imagine.

wh · November 01, 2023, 10:50:47 AM

Quote from: tiny707 on October 27, 2023, 04:23:03 PM
If Donovan makes NBA hang his jersey too at Hilltop.

Jacob Ognacevic has been far more successful at Lipscomb than has been Donovan Clay at Missouri State. I'm thinking statue adjacent to the Victory Bell if he makes the NBA.

David81 · November 01, 2023, 09:11:14 PM

Quote from: wh on November 01, 2023, 10:50:47 AM
Quote from: tiny707 on October 27, 2023, 04:23:03 PM
If Donovan makes NBA hang his jersey too at Hilltop.

Jacob Ognacevic has been far more successful at Lipscomb than has been Donovan Clay at Missouri State. I'm thinking statue adjacent to the Victory Bell if he makes the NBA.

Add JO to that mix....esp for outside shooting.

I know, coulda, woulda, shoulda.

But I think JFL's departure was the statement that it was OK to regard VU as a developmental stop along the way.

vuny98 · November 03, 2023, 08:52:01 AM

Javon gave us two great years. He had ambitions to play professionally, and made the choice that his best bet to get there was by moving to a larger school/conference. Looking back on it, with Lottich as the coach and the constant turmoil the team was in, he probably made the right choice. I don't consider him leaving on bad terms. I imagine if Valpo were in a stronger position at the time he would have stayed, at least longer than he did. He did what was best for him.

Clearly different than Clay or JO who didn't do a ton here and moved laterally or down because they didn't want to be here, regardless of the reason.

I for one am happy to consider JFL as a Valpo product even if he isn't listed as such. Maybe not to the same degree as I do Bryce, or Peters or even Krikke (who would have Iowa after his name if he goes pro). But I am not going to hate on him or be all bitter because he moved on from us.

tiny707 · November 03, 2023, 11:33:43 AM

Agree 98. Clay wanted to be closer to home too. All three probably stay with current coaching staff.

Pgmado · November 03, 2023, 01:35:54 PM

I know I've talked about this on the pod, but here are my thoughts on JFL.

If COVID never happens, JFL is back at Valpo. Here is my thinking. The team makes the Valley title game and comes up short. Players go home for spring break and are back on campus a week later. Offseason workouts begin with a focus on taking the next step. With Sackey and JFL as the experienced leaders, and Clay/Krikke as emerging talents along with Gordon and Robinson, the team has a real core of players. JFL sees that the team can grow together. Then you throw in Sheldon Edwards in the summer and here comes a freshman that will challenge JFL every day in practice. JFL is Preseason Valley First Team and is likely Player of the Year after AJ Green's injury.

What happens instead is everyone scatters after Valley title loss because of COVID. Players are stuck at home where JFL is around people who keep telling him to leave Valpo. He's not in the gym with his teammates. He's not meeting with the coaches. Instead, he decides to stay in the city and he transfers to DePaul. It's an up-and-down year and when the season ends, his coach gets fired. This has been alluded many times, but JFL was thisclose to coming back to Valpo. Conversations were had and I even went so far as to write a draft of a story that he was transferring back to Valpo. I had alerted my sports editor that such a story was coming "any day now." He wanted to come back, but was essentially (and incorrectly) blocked by DePaul. DePaul hires Stubblefield from Oregon and it becomes a moot point.

Point of all of it is, JFL maintained (and still has) a great relationship with Valpo and that coaching staff. He wanted to come back. If COVID never happens, I don't believe he ever leaves. It's just my opinion and it means nothing at the end of the day. JFL is a very private and quiet person, so I'm not sure that we'll ever get a public declaration of just how close he was to coming back. I'm thrilled that he's on the cusp of his NBA dream and I think the Bulls made a major error in letting him go.

tiny707 · November 03, 2023, 02:23:05 PM

Thanks for your take PO. Bulls
could use him now. Game changer.

valpotx · November 04, 2023, 12:17:01 AM

DePaul wouldn't release him? Valpo always took the higher ground and didn't impede such movement to other programs.

Valpo14 · November 04, 2023, 07:19:23 AM

hmmmm....id ask some of the players under Bryce about that when he left

valpotx · November 05, 2023, 03:20:10 PM

If it was folks that wanted to follow Bryce to Vanderbilt, I support Valpo's decision in those cases

wh · November 05, 2023, 07:35:35 PM

Quote from: valpotx on November 05, 2023, 03:20:10 PM
If it was folks that wanted to follow Bryce to Vanderbilt, I support Valpo's decision in those cases

David Skara comes to mind.

tiny707 · November 11, 2023, 08:07:52 AM

26 points for JFL debut with Toronto Raptors.

valpotx · November 11, 2023, 01:54:51 PM

He has an NBA style to him, with his slashing approach and streaky shooting

NativeCheesehead · November 11, 2023, 02:13:29 PM

He had 26 with the G League Raptors 905. Still a nice debut but not for Toronto.

historyman · November 13, 2023, 11:04:49 AM

Quote from: tiny707 on November 11, 2023, 08:07:52 AM
26 points for JFL debut with Toronto Raptors.

If Javon had scored 26 for the Raptors in the NBA there would have been a bunch of Raptor fans talking about it on the NBA channel and Mr. Kim would have been talking to Mr. Chin about it in Kim's Convenience Store off Sherbourne on Queen St. East.

269 Queen St E - Google Maps

vu84v2 · January 18, 2024, 08:32:20 AM

As of last night, Javon Freeman-Liberty has officially played in the NBA. In last nights blowout win for the Raptors, he played two minutes and scored two points.

He is the fourth former Valpo player in its D1 era to play in the NBA.

valpotx · January 18, 2024, 04:03:07 PM

Congrats to JFL! Never had an ill feelings towards him leaving, since it seemed to be driven by those around him.