St. John’s forward Donnie Freeman to miss 2026-27 season after Achilles surgery

St. John’s has suffered a major setback heading into the 2026-27 men’s college basketball season. Forward Donnie Freeman will miss next season after undergoing surgery on a right Achilles tendon, according to multiple reports citing St. John’s announcement and comments from coach Rick Pitino. Freeman was injured during a workout, the injury described as non-contact, a development that abruptly changes the Red Storm’s plans for how quickly they expected to reload their rotation.

Freeman’s status is particularly significant because he arrived at St. John’s as an expected difference-maker in the frontcourt. He entered the program following two seasons at Syracuse and was viewed as a high-usage presence who could help stabilize scoring and rebounding as St. John’s approaches another competitive stretch in the Big East. Losing that role before the season begins forces St. John’s to redistribute minutes and responsibilities among remaining forwards and incoming pieces.

Reports describe the injury timeline this way: Freeman was hurt during a workout earlier this week, then had surgery, leading to the decision to miss the entire upcoming season. Pitino is quoted in offseason coverage as posting that the injury happened in a non-contact setting and that Freeman will miss the season, with the team focused on getting him back at full strength. While the procedure means Freeman’s game availability is off the table for 2026-27, the primary question for St. John’s becomes how much production can be replaced and how quickly new pieces can be integrated into the offensive and defensive system.

Freeman’s college impact before the move to St. John’s came with real statistical weight. FOX Sports’ offseason roundup, which cites his Syracuse production, lists Freeman at 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds in 37 games over two seasons. That type of output matters in the way St. John’s likely planned to play, because it suggests Freeman would not only score, but also contribute on the glass. Without him, St. John’s must find alternate sources for points in the paint and second-chance opportunities, and it must address matchups across the Big East’s physical, half-court lineups.

This injury also lands in the middle of a broader cycle of roster turnover. St. John’s has had significant roster and talent questions in recent weeks, and the Freeman news is another reminder that offseason expectations can change quickly. According to FOX Sports’ broader offseason context, St. John’s had multiple frontcourt departures tied to the NBA draft, which would have already increased the burden on the incoming transfers and returning players. With Freeman now out for the full season, that burden rises again.

The next steps for the Red Storm are clearer on the team-building side than they are on a timeline. Coaches can adjust recruiting and the depth chart, but Achilles rehab typically requires careful, extended progression, and the team has now set an expectation that Freeman will not participate during the 2026-27 season. For St. John’s fans, the key watch items will be who assumes Freeman’s traditional minutes and how the team compensates on rebounding and close-range scoring, especially when facing Big East opponents that punish teams for losing size and athleticism in the frontcourt.