Javon Freeman-Liberty
No. 0 – Toronto Raptors
PositionShooting guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1999-10-20) October 20, 1999
Good Hope, Illinois, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft2022: undrafted
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022–2023Windy City Bulls
2023–presentToronto Raptors
2023–present→Raptors 905
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-MVC (2020)
  • Second-team All-Big East (2022)
  • 2× MVC All-Defensive Team (2020, 2021)
  • MVC Most-Improved Team (2020)
  • MVC All-Freshman Team (2019)

Javon Freeman-Liberty (born October 20, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with Raptors 905 of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the DePaul Blue Demons of the Big East Conference. He also previously played for the Valparaiso Crusaders.

High school career

Freeman-Liberty began playing high school basketball for Seton Academy in South Holland, Illinois. After the school closed, he transferred to Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago, Illinois.[1] As a junior, Freeman-Liberty averaged 13.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, helping his team win the Class 4A state title.[2] In his senior season, he averaged about 20 points and six rebounds per game, leading Whitney Young back to the state title game.[3] He committed to playing college basketball for Valparaiso over offers from VCU and Saint Louis, among others.[2]

College career

As a freshman at Valparaiso, Freeman-Liberty averaged 11 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, earning Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) All-Defensive and All-Freshman honors.[4] On November 25, 2019, he posted a sophomore season-high 32 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals in an 81–77 overtime loss to Cincinnati.[5] As a sophomore, Freeman-Liberty averaged 19 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game, setting a program single-season record with 74 steals. He was selected to the First Team All-MVC, All-Defensive Team and Most-Improved Team.[6]

Freeman-Liberty declared for the 2020 NBA draft before withdrawing and transferring to DePaul.[7] He was granted immediate eligibility.[8] In his junior season, he averaged 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.[9] On November 20, 2021, Freeman-Liberty recorded a career-high 33 points and 11 rebounds in an 84–80 win over Western Illinois.[10] On January 13, 2022, he aggravated a groin injury in a 96–92 victory over Seton Hall, forcing him to miss several games.[11] Freeman-Liberty was named to the Second Team All-Big East.[12]

Professional career

Windy City Bulls (2022–2023)

After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Freeman-Liberty signed the Windy City Bulls on October 23, 2022.[13] He appeared in 17 regular season games and averaged 18.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.4 steals and 30.2 minutes.[14]

Toronto Raptors (2023–present)

On July 22, 2023, Freeman-Liberty signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors.[14]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Valparaiso 333331.3.452.289.6934.32.01.8.411.0
2019–20 Valparaiso 333333.2.436.287.7506.13.22.2.319.0
2020–21 DePaul 141431.9.427.293.7405.32.61.5.114.4
2021–22 DePaul 242434.9.430.368.7397.33.21.7.121.7
Career 10410432.8.437.312.7335.72.71.9.216.5

Personal life

Freeman-Liberty's uncle, Marcus Liberty, played four seasons in the NBA following a college career at Illinois.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Moore, Evan F. (November 29, 2017). "Javon Freeman, Xavier Castaneda are built to take Whitney Young back to state tournament". The Athletic. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Osipoff, Michael (September 3, 2017). "Whitney Young guard Javon Freeman-Liberty commits to Valparaiso". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  3. ↑ Smith, Maddi (January 30, 2021). "DePaul basketball: Homecoming for Javon Freeman-Liberty". Deceptive Speed College Football. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  4. ↑ Oren, Paul (May 3, 2019). "After initially expressing plans to transfer, Freeman-Liberty returning to Valparaiso". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  5. ↑ Osipoff, Michael (November 25, 2019). "Men's basketball notes: Javon Freeman-Liberty nearly carries Valparaiso to upset of Cincinnati". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Javon Freeman-Liberty Granted Immediate Eligibility". DePaul University Athletics. November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  7. ↑ Kreymer, Lawrence (May 1, 2020). "DePaul lands transfer Javon Freeman-Liberty". The DePaulia. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  8. ↑ Ryan, Shannon (November 25, 2020). "DePaul's Javon Freeman-Liberty, a Young graduate, is granted immediate eligibility after his transfer from Valparaiso". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  9. ↑ Oren, Paul (April 3, 2021). "Does Valparaiso have a transfer problem, or is it simply catching up with the times?". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  10. ↑ Kreymer, Lawrence (November 23, 2021). "'I don't want to lose': Javon Freeman-Liberty proving to be DePaul's leader this season". The DePaulia. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Seton Hall's comeback attempt falls short in upset loss to DePaul". New York Post. Associated Press. January 13, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Javon Freeman-Liberty Named Second Team All-BIG EAST". DePaul Blue Demons. March 6, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  13. ↑ Berklan, Matt (October 23, 2022). "Windy City Bulls Finalize Training Camp Roster". On Tap Sports Net. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  14. 1 2 "RAPTORS RE-SIGN DOWTIN JR. AND HARPER JR. AND ADD FREEMAN-LIBERTY". NBA.com. July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  15. ↑ Ryan, Shannon (May 9, 2020). "Javon Freeman-Liberty is getting guidance from his uncle Marcus Liberty — while forging his own path after transferring to DePaul". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
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