Inspiration
University of Akron men's basketball coach John Groce calls Enrique Freeman a unicorn. It's hard to disagree with him when you consider his journey, one even he calls surreal. As a skinny high school senior, the only scholarship offer Freeman had was for academics, not basketball. He enrolled at Akron, grew four inches, and was urged by his friends to attend the annual walk-on tryout. His effort and drive caught Groce's eye, and he was given a roster spot. No one expected how Freeman's relentless determination would transform his game. The walk-on became the MAC conference defensive player of the year, then all-league honoree and tournament MVP. This year, he led the nation in rebounds, was the conference player of the year, and earned All-American distinction.
But that's not why he's a unicorn. Instead, it's who he is as a person. It's because of his human skills - coachability, humilty, and work ethic - and his off-the-court exploits. He serves on the student-athlete advisory council. He completed his bachelor's degree in communication and will finish his MBA in May. That MBA will pay off when he becomes a certain NBA draft pick. Not only will that NBA team get a great player, they'll get a better person.