Zach Freeman, a former Illinois Wesleyan basketball student-athlete, is currently playing professionally in Germany.
"Are you talking about Zach, he is NEVER going to be any good, don't even waste your time." I was crushed when I heard those words at the age of 14, but I knew it was last day in my life that I would ever feel sorry for myself. It was precisely those words that gave me the motivation, inspiration, enthusiasm, and determination that shaped my growth as a person and basketball player.
Let me first start by giving a little background about myself. My name is Zach Freeman. I am 23 years old and I grew up in Bloomington/Normal, IL, two towns with a combined population of roughly 150,000. I attended Normal Community High School and graduated with honors in 2003. Under Coach Dave Witzig, our team finished with a 24-4 record, one of the most successful teams in the school's history.
In high school, collegiate recruiting was an everyday event. With eight future collegiate players on the team, it was not uncommon to see coaches at practice and receive phone calls at home. With many options, I knew it was going to be a tough decision. In May 2003, I verbally committed to Illinois Wesleyan University, an NCAA Division III basketball powerhouse located in my hometown of Bloomington, IL.
Choosing Illinois Wesleyan was one of the best decisions I have made in my life to date. Rejecting many full and partial scholarships at other schools, I was often criticized. By choosing Illinois Wesleyan, I felt I had the chance to get a great education and be a part of a very successful program. In my four years at IWU, I helped compile a 78-33 record on the court. In 2006, Illinois Wesleyan finished in third place in the Division III National Tournament in Salem, VA. In 2007, I was honored as both an all-american and academic all-american while closing my career in the top 10 in points and rebounds in IWU's history. It was soon after the basketball season that I began seriously considering a career in basketball overseas while also interviewing for teaching jobs throughout Illinois.
The initial thought of playing overseas was a little overwhelming, taking into consideration things like language differences, cultural differences, living conditions, and leaving everything and everybody you have ever known. While I pondered this decision, I continued to workout and was invited to two different exposure camps (for NCAA Division II and III players as well as NAIA schools) to workout in front of international scouts. After sending game tapes and highlight clips out to several agents from all over the world, I signed with an agent in Duesseldorf, Germany, giving him exclusive rights to me as a player. On July 26th, 2007, I departed for Germany, with a one-year contract to play for Phoenix Hagen of the 2.Bundesliga Basketball League.
Traveling over 4,000 miles and not knowing if someone was going to pick me up took a lot of courage. The transition to life in Germany was difficult at first. Since nobody would blame me if I came back, I was tempted to quit at first. It was at this time my experiences from college helped transform my overwhelming experience into a very rewarding one. I settled in nicely and I began to adapt and thrive in the Germany culture. However, basketball in Germany was much different than I had expected.
In my opinion, collegiate athletics, within the framework of the NCAA, are athletics in its purest form. The passion, enthusiasm, and loyalty to the school and teammates are characteristics that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. I say this because amateur athletics in Germany are all run through professional club teams. Germany's amateur athletics are inferior to the United States in structure, facilities, resources, and talent. I believe that the NCAA and other collegiate organizations are the main reason there are so many American players are playing overseas. U.S. born players have the skills, leadership, and endeavor to succeed at the professional level. These characteristics tend to be lacking in many professional European players.
In Germany, the leadership from former NCAA student-athletes is ever present. The increase in Division III athletes can also not be overlooked in Germany. When general managers are looking for players to fill their rosters, they are looking more and more for the whole package, not just the skills. I believe this trend will continue with many clubs looking for a great player that is smart and can lead a team in the toughest of situations.
I do have to say that life in Germany now is extremely satisfying. I have the opportunity everyday to help increase the popularity and develop basketball in a foreign country. Having the opportunity to mentor and coach youth players is very rewarding and integral to my growth as a future coach. My passion for teaching has also carried me to the classroom, where I teach English in several classes in Hagen. These experiences are all reasons why I wanted to be a professional basketball player. When my professional career is over, I can honestly say that I have lived the life of a professional basketball player. The experiences that I have will put me head and shoulders over my peers for a teaching job in the United States. My outlook on life is refined and ever changing.
It has been almost ten years since the day I heard those words. With basketball as my vehicle, those words have taken me all over the world. My advice is to pursue every opportunity that is available to you and follow your dreams...you never know where it might take you!
