Freeland Headed to Patriot League

New England Recruiting Report | Sunday, October 30th, 2011

Ben Freeland, a native of Santa Rosa, California arrived at Suffield Academy this fall for a post-graduate year, but was no stranger to New England after a brief stint in the area this summer hitting events like Hoop Mountain Super Weeks 1 and 2, along with the Elite 75 Showcase. It was during this trip that Freeland’s recruiting began to take off, as the big man received interest from a variety of programs in the Ivy and Patriot Leagues. 

This fall the buzz around Freeland continued to build as he added multiple division I scholarship offers extending from the Patriot League into the America East Conference.  Throughout that process, Freeland says one program continued to stand out for him. 

“Lafayette had been recruiting me all summer, and throughout the fall. Coach Loeffler and Coach O’Hanlon were outstanding throughout the process,” Freeland said.  “When I took my official visit last month it just felt right. They have a couple guys from Northern California, which made things even more comfortable, and I will have a chance to compete to play right away. On top of all that Lafayette is an amazing school academically.”

Suffield Academy coach Jeff Depelteau concurred. 

“Ben is going into a great situation at Lafayette. It’s a top–tier education, he has the opportunity to compete for playing time as a freshman, and they have been to the last two Patriot League Championship games,” he said.  “Lafayette was just a great fit in every important area for Ben. I’m really happy for him, as are all of his teammates here at Suffield.”

A skilled six-foot-ten big man with the skills to make a jump hook on the block or step out to the three-point line, Freeland’s best basketball is definitely still in front of him as he has a chance to develop into a very good frontcourt player in the Patriot League. 

“I am excited about Lafayette, and now I am very excited to focus on the upcoming season,” Freeland said.  “All of the guys have been working hard this fall, but we know there are a lot of very good teams throughout New England that are going to want to raise the NEPSAC championship at the end of the year.”

Freeland is just one reason why Suffield is considered one of the favorites in class B this year.  He joins fellow post-graduate Erik Sanders, senior Jamel Torrence, and juniors Denzell Jackson, Mack Montague, and Colin Pascoe to give Depelteau his deepest and most talented team in his three seasons at the helm of the Tiger’s program.