Javon Freeman-Liberty

Javon Freeman-Liberty, a distinguished individual in American basketball was born on October 20, 1999. His fame in the National Basketball Association (NBA) is acclaimed, where he plays professionally for the Toronto Raptors. His basketball journey has traversed various realms, from high school to college, showcasing impressive performances at each stage.

Freeman-Liberty started his high school basketball stint with Seton Academy, based in South Holland, Illinois. This was until relocation forced his transfer to another sporting powerhouse, Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago, Illinois. His junior season was marked with an average score of 13.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in every game. This feat was instrumental in leading his team to win the Class 4A state title. Another impressive display seen in his senior season was an average record of 20 points and six rebounds in every game. His leadership was once again demonstrated, as he guided Whitney Young back to the state title game.

When it came to college basketball, Freeman-Liberty committed to play for Valparaiso Crusaders, brushing off offers from competitors such as VCU and Saint Louis. He paved his way into basketball stardom in his freshman year, averaging 11 points and 4.3 rebounds, which saw him earn important accolades such as the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) All-Defensive and All-Freshman honors. His skills were further exhibited on November 25, 2019, where he posted his sophomore season-high of 32 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and four steals in an unfortunate 81-77 overtime loss to Cincinnati. He finished his sophomore year with impressive stats, averaging 19 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.2 steals in every game.

The NBA was soon calling, and Freeman-Liberty declared for the draft in 2020. A withdrawal from the draft and later transfer to DePaul saw him continue with his prowess in the game. In his junior season, he held an average of 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He recorded a career-high on November 20, 2021, scoring 33 points and managing 11 rebounds in an 84-80 win over Western Illinois.

Career progression continued, and post his shift from college basketball, Freeman-Liberty was soon signed by Windy City Bulls on October 23, 2022. Despite being undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, he had some great performances with the Bulls, appearing in 17 regular-season games and maintaining an average of 18.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.4 steals in approximately 30.2 minutes.

Freeman-Liberty then moved on to sign a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors on July 22, 2023. His growing reputation was stamped on March 1, 2024, when Raptors converted Freeman-Liberty’s two-way contract into a multi-year NBA contract. This remarkable shift was on the back of his outstanding average of 24 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game with Raptors 905.

Javon Freeman-Liberty is driven by his absolute dedication to basketball, a sentiment that seems to run in his family as his uncle, Marcus Liberty, upheld a successful basketball career, playing four seasons in the NBA following an accomplished college career at Illinois. The journey of the 6-foot-3-inch, 200-pound shooting guard is a testament to his ability to strive for excellence in the realm of professional sports, specifically basketball.