???Being a point guard isn't easy. One play could change everything.
???Deciding whether to throw into coverage, dump the ball into the post or have the ability to wait for the open shooter takes a sound mind, making point guard one of the toughest positions in basketball.
For senior point guard Dortae Freeman, playing the position comes naturally.
Freeman's basketball career began in Detroit, Mich. at Cass Technical High School. On her team, she was a standout, averaging 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game. She even won the MVP award her senior year.
???Because of her high quality of play, Freeman was offered scholarships from big-time schools such as Duke, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Kansas, Massachusetts and Miami (OH).
So why did she choose Buffalo?
???"It was Division I and the program was smaller than those other schools," Freeman said. "I felt like I could immediately be an impact player. I am very happy that I made the decision to come here because UB has been like a second home for me."
???Although her stats may not be as gaudy as her high-school numbers, Freeman's impact still resonates throughout the women's basketball program.
???"Dortae is a very competitive athlete who has great leadership qualities," said assistant coach Crishna Hill. "She is a vocal point guard with amazing court vision."
???Foresight allows Freeman to be successful on the court, but she insists that it is not her only skill.
???"I'm known for my defense," Freeman said. "I'm more defensively minded. I also think that I'm an energetic player. I play the game with passion and I give 100 percent every time I'm on the floor."
???Freeman's head coach agrees, stating that Freeman's energy is what the team thrives on.
???"[Freeman] has the ability to infuse energy into her teammates when she steps on the court," said head coach Linda Hill-MacDonald.
???While Freeman considers herself a defensive presence for the Bulls, Hill-MacDonald insists that it is her offensive game that makes Freeman stand out.
???"Tae sees the floor well and has the ability to get the ball out of her hands quickly to an open teammate," she said. "I would characterize Dortae as more of a playmaker than a scorer, which is typical for a player who is a point guard."
???To go along with her skills on the court, Freeman's personality traits are just as numerous and just as important.
???"I like to think of myself as silly around my teammates," Freeman said. "I also think of myself as a fun person to be around."
???Her coach reinforced these beliefs.
???"Dortae has a sense of humor and the ability to make her teammates laugh," Hill-Macdonald said. "She has innate leadership ability and her teammates often look to her for advice and direction."
???While these all-around skills Freeman possesses would make anyone want to play basketball, Freeman still has inspirations that keep her playing the sport that she has loved since she was four years old.
???"I'm inspired by the game itself," Freeman adds. "I've been playing it for so long. It also helps when you are the sister of two older brothers [Dontez and Kenneth]."
???Besides daily contests with her brothers, Freeman also attributes her high school days of track for giving her greater foot speed.
???Freeman, who majors in communication, should have no worries about whether or not her attitude and excitement will leave a lasting impression on the program she loves so much. Her coaching staff has made it apparent that the legacy of Freeman will have an impact on the program for years to come.
