NORFOLK, VA—Old Dominion University head basketball coach Jeff Jones announced today that Trey Freeman’s appeal for the waiver request to play this season has been denied by the NCAA. Freeman, who transferred to ODU from Campbell University, must sit out this season, but will have two years of eligibility remaining beginning the 2014-15 season.
“Since the moment we received the denial of Trey’s appeal on Oct. 16, we have been attempting to have the NCAA reconsider its original decision,” said ODU head coach Jeff Jones. “It’s difficult to accept this decision given the seemingly inconsistent decisions made by the NCAA on these kind of matters. We look forward to Trey being in the program for the next three years.”
Freeman was a second team All-Big South Conference selection as a sophomore this past season where he averaged 14.3 points, 5.8 assists, 3.2 rebounds and shot .828 from the free throw line. He was the only CU player to start all 33 games. As a freshman, Freeman was named Big South Rookie of the Year in 2011-12 after averaging 13.9 points and 3.8 assists.
“I am extremely disappointed by this news, but excited to be part of the ODU program and the opportunity to be close to my family,” said Freeman. “My goal this year, now, is to help the team in whatever way I possibly can.”
Freeman scored in double figures 25 times while leading the league in assists, ranked 26th in the nation and was third in the league in assist-turnover ratio (2.17). He scored a career high 28 points against Liberty in 2011-12 and had a 2012-13 season high of 24 points against Gardner-Webb. He dished out six or more assists 15 times with 14 against VMI on Feb. 16th of this year being his career high.
At Kellam High School, Freeman was named second-team All-State and Beach District Player of the Year as a senior after averaging 20.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. He led Kellam to the Beach District regular season and tournament championship and a 27-0 record before losing in the regional semifinals.