After starting his collegiate career at Duquesne and San Diego State, Chad Baker-Mazara took a detour to Northwest Florida State College during the 2022–23 season. From there, he rose through the junior college ranks to become a key two-year contributor at Auburn, playing a vital role in last season’s Final Four run. Now, at 25, Baker-Mazara has entered the transfer portal again, prompting head coach Bruce Pearl to explore smaller programs in search of a new wing.
On Saturday, Auburn secured a commitment from Elyjah Freeman, a standout transfer from Division II Lincoln Memorial University. The 6-foot-8 wing impressed with his shooting and athleticism, averaging nearly 20 points per game. Despite his potential, Freeman still presents a gamble as the fourth transfer addition of the offseason for Pearl.
Lincoln Memorial’s Elyjah Freeman has committed to Auburn, sources tell ESPN. The 6’8” forward put up 19.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, hitting over 46% from beyond the arc in his DII debut.
Following Auburn’s second-ever Final Four appearance, Pearl faces the challenge of replacing the entire starting lineup. Baker-Mazara was the final major departure, and several newcomers could potentially fill his shoes. Keyshawn Hall, a 6-foot-8 transfer from UCF, brings a versatile scoring game, and Kevin Overton offers defensive strength and streaky shooting. Still, Freeman may be the most straightforward replacement—though that doesn’t guarantee success.
Freeman’s move up from Division II is well-earned, but jumping to the SEC is a major leap. Last year, Pearl brought in JP Pegues from SoCon’s Furman to run the point, but Pegues lost his starting role after the Maui Invitational and saw limited minutes afterward.
The SEC is a demanding league—14 of its 16 teams made the NCAA Tournament last season. While Freeman doesn’t face the same size or athleticism limitations as the 6’2”, 180-pound Pegues, there’s no guarantee he’ll thrive right away.
That said, Freeman could flourish with the elevated support and coaching available at Auburn. There’s precedent for small-school transfers succeeding at the highest levels: Bennett Stirtz went from DII Northwest Missouri State to Drake and earned All-American honorable mention honors, and he’s set to shine at Iowa next season. Even within the SEC, players like Dalton Knecht (who came to Tennessee from Northern Colorado after a JUCO stint) and Chaz Lanier (who transferred from North Florida to Tennessee and earned Second-Team All-SEC) have made significant impacts.
And of course, there’s Baker-Mazara himself, who arrived at Auburn after his own winding path, including a stop at Northwest Florida State.