Four years ago, he had two broken legs. Now Charlotte prep star averages 32 points per game

Brett Freeman essentially had to teach himself how to walk four years ago after an accident left him with two broken legs.

Now Freeman is an unstoppable force on the basketball court, scoring points for the Ardrey Kell boys’ team at a dizzying pace.

“I feel like I’m finally getting a chance to show what I can do,” Freeman said.

He scored 21 points in the Knights’ opening game against Providence, then poured in 43 in a loss to Charlotte Catholic. Freeman topped that off with a 33-point performance last weekend in a victory against Marvin Ridge.

He’ll take a 32.3-points-a-game scoring average into Ardrey Kell’s game at 6:30 p.m. Saturday against North Lincoln, in the Lakesgiving Classic showcase at Lake Norman.

It’s the sixth of seven games on the Day 2 schedule at the Phenom Hoops-sponsored event.

Battling back

Freeman said he spent nearly a year recovering from surgeries on both of his legs. He was in a wheelchair for several months and needed lengthy rehabilitation. He got some playing time as a freshman on the Ardrey Kell junior varsity team, then played with a stellar lineup as a sophomore at Carmel Christian.

Freeman returned to Ardrey Kell last year, and Knights coach Mike Craft said the senior point guard “has really taken the lead this year.”

“Last year, we had Delani (Hammonds) and Caden (Caskey) who took a lot of our shots,” Craft said of the two senior guards who graduated last June. “This year, Brett has taken the lead. He’s really come into his own.”

Freeman said his role last year was to set up teammates. This season, he said, it was time to shoot the ball more.

“It’s not that I’m always looking to shoot the ball,” he said. “I actually enjoy passing it. But if the shot is there, I feel the confidence to take it.”

Craft described Freeman as “a willing passer.”

“He gets excited about throwing a good pass in a game,” Craft added. “But so far, he has found himself in position to shoot frequently, and he’s doing that.”

Getting stronger

Freeman, who has made 60 percent of his shots from the floor this season, said a key to his success so far this year was a heavy-duty dose of strength training in the offseason.

“My father (Brian) works with me and keeps me going,” Freeman said. “That strength has helped me in a number of ways.”

Among other things, he said, the strength enables him to crash the boards when necessary.

“Getting the rebound as a point guard really opens up the offense,” Freeman said. “I can push the ball, with both of my wings attacking too.”

Being stronger has added another dimension to his game, Freeman added.

“I can actually play above the rim now,” he said.

But mostly, he said, the added strength is designed to help him counter defenders and to play good defense himself.

Freeman said playing at Carmel Christian two years ago under coach Joe Badgett helped greatly in his development.

“Coach Joe put together a schedule of strong national competition,” Freeman said. “So I’ve played against the best. I don’t fold under pressure.”

And Freeman said Craft “knows what’s right for me.”

“He has really helped me grow,” he said. “I’ve been blessed to play under two great coaches. I’m really appreciative of that.”

Craft is known for coaching squads that practice unselfish play. He said he realizes Freeman’s big point outputs run contrary to what people typically expect from Ardrey Kell.

He expects the scoring to level off eventually, as other players step up and as opposition focuses on stopping Freeman.

“He is really good about sharing the ball with his teammates,” Craft said. “But I think he will have a big season. He has really taken off.”

Freeman said the Knights are poised for a big season.

“We have all the pieces,” he said. “And we have Coach Craft. It will take everyone to step up — the seventh man, the eighth man. But we can do it.”