Javon Freeman-Liberty Explained

Javon Freeman-Liberty
Position:	Shooting guard / point guard
Height Ft:	6
Height In:	3
Weight Lbs:	200
Team:	Free agent
Birth Date:	20 October 1999
Birth Place:	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
High School:	Seton Academy (South Holland, Illinois) Whitney Young (Chicago, Illinois)
College:	Valparaiso (2018–2020) DePaul (2020–2022)
Draft Year:	2022
Career Start:	2022
Years1:	2022–2023
Team1:	Windy City Bulls
Team2:	Toronto Raptors
Years3:	2023–2024
Team3:	→Raptors 905
Highlights:	First-team All-MVC (2020) Second-team All-Big East (2022) 2× MVC All-Defensive Team (2019, 2020) MVC Most-Improved Team (2020) MVC All-Freshman Team (2019)

Javon Freeman-Liberty (born October 20, 1999) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for the DePaul Blue Demons of the Big East Conference. He also previously played for the Valparaiso Crusaders. He is a 6inchesft3inchesin (ftin), 200lb shooting guard.

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 All-MVC First Team, 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 All-Big East Second Team.^[12]

Professional career

Windy City Bulls (2022–2023)

After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Freeman-Liberty signed with 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 / Raptors 905 (2023–2024)

On July 22, 2023, Freeman-Liberty signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors.^[15]

On March 1, 2024, the Toronto Raptors converted Freeman-Liberty's two-way contract into a multi-year NBA contract after averaging 24 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game with the Raptors 905.^[16]

On April 9, 2024, Freeman-Liberty scored a career-high 20 points in a 140-123 loss against the Indiana Pacers. ^[17]

On July 22, 2024, Freeman-Liberty was waived by the Raptors.^[18]

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Toronto| 22 || 6 || 18.3 || .444 || .238 || .917 || 3.2 || 1.8 || .5 || .2 || 7.0|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career| 22 || 6 || 18.3 || .444 || .238 || .917 || 3.2 || 1.8 || .5 || .2 || 7.0

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19| style="text-align:left;"| Valparaiso| 33 || 33 || 31.3 || .452 || .289 || .693 || 4.3 || 2.0 || 1.8 || .4 || 11.0|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;"| Valparaiso| 33 || 33 || 33.2 || .436 || .287 || .750 || 6.1 || 3.2 || 2.2 || .3 || 19.0|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| DePaul| 14 || 14 || 31.9 || .427 || .293 || .740 || 5.3 || 2.6 || 1.5 || .1 || 14.4

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22| style="text-align:left;"| DePaul| 24 || 24 || 34.9 || .430 || .368 || .739 || 7.3 || 3.2 || 1.7 || .1 || 21.7|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 104 || 104 || 32.8 || .437 || .312 || .733 || 5.7 || 2.7 || 1.9 || .2 || 16.5

Personal life

Freeman-Liberty's uncle, Marcus Liberty, played four seasons in the NBA following a college career at Illinois.^[19]

External links

• DePaul Blue Demons bio
• Valparaiso Beacons bio

Notes and References

1. Web site: Evan F.. Moore. Javon Freeman, Xavier Castaneda are built to take Whitney Young back to state tournament. The Athletic. November 29, 2017. November 23, 2021.
2. Web site: Michael. Osipoff. Whitney Young guard Javon Freeman-Liberty commits to Valparaiso. Chicago Tribune. September 3, 2017. November 23, 2021.
3. Web site: Maddi. Smith. DePaul basketball: Homecoming for Javon Freeman-Liberty. Deceptive Speed College Football. January 30, 2021. November 23, 2021.
4. Web site: Paul. Oren. After initially expressing plans to transfer, Freeman-Liberty returning to Valparaiso. The Times of Northwest Indiana. May 3, 2019. November 23, 2021.
5. Web site: Michael. Osipoff. Men's basketball notes: Javon Freeman-Liberty nearly carries Valparaiso to upset of Cincinnati. Chicago Tribune. November 25, 2019. November 23, 2021.
6. Web site: Javon Freeman-Liberty Granted Immediate Eligibility. DePaul University Athletics. November 25, 2020. November 23, 2021.
7. Web site: Lawrence. Kreymer. DePaul lands transfer Javon Freeman-Liberty. The DePaulia. May 1, 2020. November 23, 2021.
8. Web site: Shannon. Ryan. DePaul's Javon Freeman-Liberty, a Young graduate, is granted immediate eligibility after his transfer from Valparaiso. Chicago Tribune. November 25, 2020. November 23, 2021.
9. Web site: Paul. Oren. Does Valparaiso have a transfer problem, or is it simply catching up with the times?. The Times of Northwest Indiana. April 3, 2021. November 23, 2021.
10. Web site: Lawrence. Kreymer. 'I don't want to lose': Javon Freeman-Liberty proving to be DePaul's leader this season. The DePaulia. November 23, 2021. November 23, 2021.
11. News: Seton Hall's comeback attempt falls short in upset loss to DePaul. New York Post. Associated Press. January 13, 2022. January 26, 2022.
12. Web site: Javon Freeman-Liberty Named Second Team All-BIG EAST. DePaul Blue Demons. March 6, 2022. March 6, 2022.
13. News: Matt. Berklan. Windy City Bulls Finalize Training Camp Roster. On Tap Sports Net. October 23, 2022. October 23, 2022.
14. Web site: M.. Beloso. RAPTORS RE-SIGN DOWTIN JR. AND HARPER JR. AND ADD FREEMAN-LIBERTY. NBA.com. July 22, 2023. July 22, 2023.
15. Web site: tormbeloso. RAPTORS RE-SIGN DOWTIN JR. AND HARPER JR. AND ADD FREEMAN-LIBERTY. NBA.com. July 22, 2023. March 1, 2024.
16. Web site: RAPTORS CONVERT FREEMAN-LIBERTY TO STANDARD NBA CONTRACT. NBA.com. March 1, 2024. March 1, 2024.
17. Web site: Haliburton's 30-point performance guides Pacers past Raptors. SportsNet.ca. April 9, 2024. April 9, 2024.
18. Web site: Luke. Adams. Raptors Buy Out Sasha Vezenkov, Waive Javon Freeman-Liberty. HoopsRumors.com. July 22, 2024. July 23, 2024.
19. Web site: Shannon. Ryan. Javon Freeman-Liberty is getting guidance from his uncle Marcus Liberty — while forging his own path after transferring to DePaul. Chicago Tribune. May 9, 2020. November 23, 2021.