Eric Freeny provides hope for future UCLA team after the 2025 season

Eric Freeny hasn’t had much of an impact on UCLA this year. But as of recently, he has had a few good games off of the bench that show hope. The four-star freshman guard out of Centennial is showing glimpses of what he can provide in the future. As he figures to be a key piece to this team with multiple players graduating out. Against Purdue when he was pressed into action. He had eight points on 3-4 shooting, including 2-3 from 3-point range. Playing with good confidence in a tough situation.

UCLA ultimately would lose 73-66 as the injuries to Donovan Dent and Tyler Bilodeau were too much to overcome for the Bruins. But it provided that bright spot for Freeny to build his confidence for the NCAA tournament. As he figures to be the number one option off the bench if UCLA is healthy, along with Xavier Booker and Jamar Brown. It is very important to get good spurts of bench play especially this late in the season.

There will be things that happen such as injuries and foul trouble. That’s why having any positive out of your bench is a really big factor. If Freeny can get them 8-10 points that would be absolutely huge for the team. He also had his best game recently as a Bruin against the crosstown rival USC Trojans, as he was able to drop 10 points in that 89-68 win. With Dent and Bilodeau banged up, the bench will need to be ready to absorb more minutes if needed.

Freeny redshirted in the 24-25 season, giving him three more years of eligibility after this season. He averaged 19 points, 8.5 rebounds and three assists per game as a senior at Centennial. As he became the No. 69 prospect in the nation and committing to UCLA. He possesses good size at 6’4 and plays with a fluid game. If Trent Perry returns and Skyy Clark gets another year of eligibility. That would be a good three to build around for next year along with any incoming transfers.