St. John's announced that forward Donnie Freeman will miss the entire 2026‑27 season after rupturing his Achilles tendon during a preseason workout. The injury required immediate surgery, ending his campaign before it began and removing one of the team's most experienced returning players.
A pivotal recruit
Freeman arrived in Queens after a high‑profile transfer from Kentucky, where he had already shown the ability to contribute double‑digit scoring and solid rebounding. Coaches had counted on his versatility to fill the void left by several departing seniors and to anchor a lineup that had narrowly missed the NCAA tournament the previous year.
In his lone season with the Red Storm, Freeman posted a career‑high 16.5 points per game while pulling down 7.2 rebounds and dishing out 1.3 assists per contest. Those numbers placed him among the top scorers and rebounders in the Big East, underscoring why his absence is being viewed as a major blow to the team's title aspirations.
Roster reshuffles
With Freeman sidelined, the onus will shift to players such as Babacar Sane and Djordije Jovanovic, whose roles are expected to expand dramatically. Both have already seen increased minutes in practice, and coaches say their development will be crucial if the Red Storm hope to stay in contention for a third straight conference championship.
The roster also welcomes a wave of international talent this spring, including Zuby Ejiofor, Dillon Mitchell, Bryce Hopkins, Tounde Yessoufou, Quinn Ellis, Lazar Stojkovic and Rick Pitino, who returns to the sidelines as head coach. Their diverse skill sets may provide the depth needed to offset Freeman's loss, but integrating them quickly remains a challenge.
Championship outlook
St. John's had been projected as a favorite to repeat as Big East champions, a feat that would cement the program's recent resurgence. However, the early departure of a key contributor forces the team to rely more heavily on younger players and fresh recruits, making the road to a three‑peat anything but guaranteed.