Former Akron Zips Star Honored With Jersey Retirement
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Once A Zip, Always A Zip
Enrique Freeman, a Clevelander and former Akron Zips basketball star, was honored last night by his college alma mater.
Freeman made the Zips basketball team as a walk-on in 2019. He quickly blossomed into a star, graduated, and was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in the NBA.
Tuesday night Freeman returned to Akron – after a practice with the Pacers, mind you – to sit courtside for ‘Enrique Freeman Night’ at his former school. It was a surreal moment for the young star, and one that ended with Freeman’s jersey being retired by his former college.
Akron fans were also in for a treat. Upon entering James A. Rhodes Arena they were all honored with a white replica No. 25 Enrique Freeman jersey.
As soon as he walked into the arena Freeman was greeted by fans cheering and chanting his name.
“It was, it was incredible. Just the energy. As soon as I walked in, everybody was chanting my name. It’s a feeling I truly can’t describe. It was just super surreal and I’m just super thankful, super grateful,” Freeman said.
At halftime fans were encouraged to stay in their seats as the Zips played a celebratory video for their former star. At the conclusion of the video Freeman was awarded a special, framed jersey before his retired jersey went up in the rafters.
This comes roughly a month after Freeman’s honorary night at Saint Martin de Porres. His former high school awarded him with a special jersey in January, and all of Freeman’s current NBA teammates showed up to support him.
Enrique Freeman is the the seventh Zip to be drafted into the NBA, and the first one since 1987.
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