The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men’s Basketball signs Elyjah Freeman
04.28.2026 | Men's Basketball
Freeman played in 38 games (21 starts) and led the team with 49 steals as a sophomore at Auburn.
Pronunciation help: Elyjah (ee-LIE-juh)
AUSTIN, Texas — Elyjah Freeman has signed an Athletic Scholarship Agreement (ASA) to play basketball next season at The University of Texas, head coach Sean Miller announced Tuesday. Freeman, who spent his sophomore year at Auburn and his freshman season at Lincoln Memorial University (NCAA Division II school in Harrogate, Tenn.), will join the Longhorns for the upcoming 2026-27 season and have two years of collegiate eligibility remaining.
Freeman (6-8, 185), a forward from Palm Beach, Fla., has played in 69 games (49 starts) and registered 935 points (13.6 ppg), 470 rebounds (6.8 rpg), 117 assists (1.7 apg) and 103 steals (1.5 spg) in 1,976 minutes (28.6 mpg) over the last two years at Auburn and Lincoln Memorial. He has converted 52.4-percent (318-607) from the floor, including a 38.4-percent mark (61-159) from three-point range, and 76.8-percent (238-310) from the free throw line during his first two collegiate seasons. Freeman has reached double figures in scoring 42 times in his career, topped the 20-point mark 16 times and recorded at least 30 points a total of four times. He has reached double digits in rebounds 15 times and posted 12 career double-doubles.
In his sophomore season in 2025-26 at Auburn, Freeman played in all 38 games (21 starts) and led the team in steals (49) and ranked third in rebounding (5.2 rpg) and fifth in scoring (9.2 ppg) and minutes (26.8 mpg) while helping the Tigers post a 22-16 record (7-11 SEC) and win the NIT Championship. He started all five games during Auburn's run in the NIT Tournament and averaged 10.0 points and 7.6 rebounds while hitting 45.7-percent (16-35) from the floor and 37.5-percent (6-16) from three-point range in 34.7 minutes per contest. Freeman reached double figures in scoring 14 times, including a pair of 20-point performances, and reached double digits in rebounds three times. He posted a season-high 27 points (9-13 FG, 4-4 threes, 5-5 FT) in 23 minutes against Queens (Dec. 29) and added 21 points (7-12 FG, 6-8 FT), five boards, three assists and two steals in 28 minutes against Wofford (Nov. 11).
As a freshman in 2024-25 at Lincoln Memorial, he earned South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Freshman of the Year, first-team All-SAC, SAC All-Freshman Team and second-team NABC Southeast Region All-District honors. He played in all 31 games (28 starts) and led the team in rebounding (8.7 rpg), steals (54) and blocks (23) while ranking second in scoring (18.9 ppg) and minutes (30.9 mpg) and fourth in assists (72). Freeman converted 58.7-percent (200-341) from the floor, including a 45.6-percent mark (26-57) from three-point range, and 80.7-percent (159-197) from the free throw line while leading Lincoln Memorial to a 25-6 mark and a trip to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional. He reached double figures in scoring 28 times, topped the 20-point mark 14 times and recorded at least 30 points four times during the season. Freeman reached double digits in rebounds 12 times and posted 12 double-doubles on the year. He tallied a career-high 36 points (13-24 FG, 4-6 threes, 6-8 FT) in 38 minutes at Carson-Newman (Jan. 8). Freeman registered 32 points (12-20 FG, 7-8 FT) and a career-best 19 rebounds in 38 minutes against Carson-Newman (March 6) in the semifinals of the South Atlantic Conference Tournament.
Freeman played at Wellington High School (Palm Beach, Fla.) and earned Source Hoops Class 7A third-team all-state honors and first-team all-county accolades as a senior. He averaged 15 points, five rebounds and two steals per contest during his senior season.
