Transfer players Kevin Overton and Elyjah Freeman have made significant contributions to the Auburn Tigers men’s basketball team this season. Overton, who played in the Elite Eight with Texas Tech last year, and Freeman, a former standout at Division II Lincoln Memorial in Tennessee, both cited Auburn’s supportive environment as a key reason for joining the program.
“Auburn has a family environment,” said Overton, originally from Oklahoma City. “The staff has been together for as long as any staff in the country. That gave me peace of mind to come here and not want to transfer again. I’m grateful to be where I am.”
Freeman, from Palm Beach, Florida, echoed these sentiments: “I love how connected we are. We stick together. It’s always love here at the end of the day. That’s probably the best part. I love the fans here. They show tons of love.”
Freeman experienced an early adjustment during a summer scrimmage when associate head coach Ira Bowman reminded him of the higher level of competition in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). “This isn’t Division-II. This is the SEC,” Bowman told him. “You’ve got to finish through contact!” Freeman acknowledged Bowman’s point: “He wasn’t lying. That was him telling me how it’s going to be this season.”
Averaging 10 points per game in conference play, Freeman requested that head coach Steven Pearl start freshman Sebastian Williams-Adams instead after ten games so he could contribute off the bench.
Freeman’s development continued throughout high school as he grew nearly seven inches and honed his ballhandling skills by studying NBA player Kyrie Irving. He credits his mother for his height and his father for athleticism: “I’ve always been able to dribble,” said Freeman. “Now that I’m taller and I’m a wing, it all fell into place.” In SEC play through five league games, Freeman shot 40 percent from three-point range.
“A ton of confidence,” Freeman said about his improvement since arriving at Auburn. “I’m shooting more, trusting the work I’ve put in. With defense, I’ve been trying to guard and trying to help this team get wins.” He highlighted a dunk against Houston as a personal favorite: “It might be Houston only because of who I dunked on,” referencing Chris Cenac Jr. and Joseph Tugler.
Overton leads Auburn with 29 steals through 18 games and has also contributed offensively with 34 three-pointers while shooting 35.1 percent from beyond the arc.
“I try to pride myself on the defensive end,” Overton said. “That’s where I’ve grown to enjoy more than offense.” On offense he added: “Making as many plays as I can… Offense takes care of itself based on you trying to make those winning plays. In my eyes, I see myself as a two-way monster.”
Overton described overcoming adversity after contracting Covid during high school led him briefly away from basketball before returning via prep school in Kansas and then stints at Drake and Texas Tech.
“That’s why I am where I am today,” Overton said about his journey back into basketball.
Both players expressed interest in staying involved with basketball after their playing careers end.
“I think I could give more to the game,” Overton said regarding future plans beyond playing on court roles such as mentoring or coaching younger athletes who face challenges similar to those he overcame himself.
“Maybe one day, I could become a coach or a mentor,” said Freeman, who studies kinesiology at Auburn University.
For now both are focused on contributing toward team success:
“I look forward to helping the fans get some wins,” Freeman stated.
“I’m going to do everything I can for Auburn,” Overton added.
