Mike Freeman is back on the scene

Where in the world is Mike Freeman? It's a question a lot of people have been asking. The one-time Southern Cal commit is no longer going to the Pac-10. In fact, he's not going to play college basketball next year. People can find the 6-foot-7, 200-pound small forward at Brewster Academy next year.

Freeman, who finished up at Hayfield (Va.) High School last week, has been a hard guy to find. After starting his high school career at Montrose Christian, Freeman returned to Virginia for high school.

Playing here and there on the summer circuit, Freeman didn't get a chance to see the springy forward in action as much as some other players. USC saw him though and brought him to the West Coast for an official visit. Freeman committed a day after the trip.

That's when his name dropped off the radar, per se. He's back on the scene now, though. In fact, he won't be playing for the Trojans this year.

"It's been a whole turnaround for me. I made my decision to play for USC and then coach (Henry) Bibby got fired and that changed a lot of things," Freeman explained to Rivals.com. "(New USC coach) Tim Floyd came to meet me but we didn't see things the same way Coach Bibby and I did. That's when I decided to back out of my commitment. I just didn't feel comfortable."

Because his decision to ask out of his letter of intent came so late in the process and with a non-qualifying score, Freeman has decided to take a prep year to get things right both in the classroom and with recruiters. Freeman will attend Brewster Academy in New Hampshire and play for Jason Smith on the basketball team.

"It's a real big opportunity for me there," Freeman said. "I think I'll be able to do a lot of things both on and off the court. I know I have to work at it there."

Charlotte, South Florida and New Mexico State all inquired after Freeman pulled out of his commitment to the Trojans. Freeman said he's heard from Miami, Hartford, Pitt and NC State recently. Playing with the Cecil Kirk AAU team this summer, he hopes to show coaches he is ready to play at the next level.

"I'm wide open with my recruitment," Freeman said matter-of-factly. "I know I want to make a decision early in the fall but I know I need to be qualified first. That is my number one priority right now. Then I'll look at recruiting and making a decision."

While he insists he's open, he does have a liking for a couple of conferences.

"I'm a big fan of the ACC. I've always liked that conference. If you look at the big players, they all come from there," Freeman said. "I like the Pac-10, too."