IOWA CITY, Iowa — Moline High School graduate and Iowa Hawkeye Owen Freeman has been named the Big Ten Men's Basketball Freshman of the Year.
The Big Ten Conference made the announcement on Tuesday, March 12. Freeman was named a Co-Big Ten Freshman of the year along with Indiana's Mackenzie Mgbako by Big Ten coaches, while Freeman secured the award from the media.
During Freeman's true freshman campaign, the former Maroon earned nine Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards, the second most of any player in conference history.
Freeman is the first Hawkeye to win the award since Jess Settles in 1994, and the first Quad Cities area player to earn the award since Rockridge's Ethan Happ won it at Wisconsin in 2016.
The star forward has averaged 10.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks during the season while shooting nearly 64% from the field. Freeman leads all Big Ten freshman in rebounds (203), blocks (56) and double doubles (5).
Freeman and the Hawkeyes will take to the hardwood at 5:30 p.m. Thursday against Ohio State during the second round of the 2024 Big Ten Men's Basketball Conference Tournament.
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