Xavier junior forward Zach Freemantle was medically cleared to return to all basketball activities on Friday, head coach Travis Steele told The Enquirer following his team's 59-58 win over Virginia Tech in the NIT Season Tip-Off.
Freemantle, a preseason first-team All-Big East selection who led Xavier in scoring and rebounding last season, has been out since early August with a foot injury that required surgery roughly five weeks ago.
Steele had been pointing to Dec. 1 as a possible return date, but it appears Freemantle is ahead of schedule. Steele emphasized that Freemantle's return will be gradual.