Irvine Valley sophomore women's basketball player Emily Freeman has committed to NCAA Division II University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Freeman, a star shooting guard, has been a champion on and off the court for Irvine Valley athletics.
She was recently named IVC's Scholar Athlete of the year as well as a Character Champion for the Lasers for the 2023-24 campaign.
Freeman was the latest in a long line of campus leaders from IVC women's basketball. She was a captain, scholar-athlete, honor student and a community servant.
She epitomized the concept of an engaged student-athlete.
Freeman's history of service to her community and the campus is one of both breadth and depth.
She has been an IVC women's basketball community outreach captain, a host to a basketball clinic/camp with Santiago Elementary School and was a weekly scorekeeper at Ladera Sports Center with youth basketball events.
Freeman has done just as much in and around Irvine Valley.
She peer tutored at IVC in Economics and Accounting, had an internship with the counseling department and was a lead fundraiser for the Coaches vs. Cancer campaign.
She also helped as a spotter and with statistics for basketball games with the sports information department.
Freeman was also the team rep for women's basketball to the IVC SAAC.
"Emily has been a model for what a student-athlete should aspire to be," Coordinater for basketball at IVC Jason Garey said. "Her professional approach to the daily tasks that are pertinent to success is second to none."
"Emily's diligence on the court and classroom were evident by her success in both," Garey continued. "She has a bright future and we are so excited to see what's next for her."
Entering the 2023 spring term at IVC, Freeman had a 3.92 GPA in 90 units and was a five time Dean's List student and shining forward to an Associatie of Arts degree in Liberal Studies.
She earned Magna Cum Laude in 2023 and will now working on playing NCAA women's basketball and continuing here academics.
Freeman, a guard from San Juan Hills High, averaged 9.1 points per game and led the team with 69 made three-pointers this past season.
Freeman was a two-year starter at shooting guard, a team captain in 2023-24, named second team all-Orange Empire Conference in 2022-23 and 2023-24 and was a three-time IVC scholar athlete.
With Freeman, IVC finshed with a record of 21-8 overall and was 12-2 for second place in conference this past season. The Lasers were ranked in the top 10 in Southern California all season.
Irvine Valley also made the So. Cal. Regional Playoffs.
Freeman was named second team all-Orange Empire Conference.
