Rakeem Christmas

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Syracuse 68, St. John’s 63

Sunday, December 15, 2013 | Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)

Rakeem Christmas — PF/C, 6-9, 225
Junior, 23 years old

Season (20.6 mpg): 5.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.4 BPG

Game (20 min): 8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks

Outlook: Christmas is a great athlete with terrific defensive potential, but we need to call it like it is here: A former McDonald’s All-American, he hasn’t really developed the way many thought he would.

2011-’12 (freshman year): 11.5 MPG, 2.8 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 15.7 PER
2012-’13 (sophomore year): 20 MPG, 5.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 16.2 PER
2013-’14 (junior year): 20 MPG, 5.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 17.7 PER

Against St. John’s, Christmas looked good defensively. He made a few athletic plays, including blocking Chris Obekpa at the rim. He’s very comfortable in Syracuse’s zone, and because he’s mobile at 6-9, he’s interchangeable across the back line.

STRENGTHS

Around the Basket

Christmas plays with great energy. However, his offensive range is limited to five feet from the basket. His frame and high school potential indicated he’d be more than just a close-range player. But nearly 90% of his shot attempts this season have been attempted around the basket, and his numbers as an underclassmen were the same.

Impressive athleticism down low to dunk put-backs, and also has a soft touch on jump hooks over either shoulder. Establishes position well, although he lacks the muscle to do so in the NBA. Christmas has a developing post-up game, including a nice drop-step-dunk move, but he’s not a threat offensively.

Video: Around the Basket Scoring

Video: Post-Ups

Defensive Potential

Christmas stays vertical on defense, and has the bounce and length to contest shots in the paint. He ranks 53rd in the country with a 9.5% block percentage. It’s difficult to gauge man-to-man ability in Syracuse’s zone, though, so this must be taken with a grain of salt.

Video: “Spot Up” Defense

Video: Interior Defense

NEEDS TO IMPROVE

Poor Rebounding

Christmas has produced pedestrian rebounding numbers throughout college (3.7 RPG this season). If you’re a big man who plays primarily in the paint, you need to have at least some rebounding ability. Not a good look here.

No Range / Not Much Offensive Skill-Set

Christmas has essentially no range or polish outside of the immediate vicinity of the basket. As mentioned, nearly 90% of his shot attempts are around the basket. He lacks the touch/feel/polish/skill right now, and if you’re 6-9, you need to be able to do more than just dunk the ball.

Video: No Range

OVERALL

He has defensive tools that make him intriguing as an NBA prospect, but I haven’t seen enough to give him any plaudits right now. If he can increase his rebounding numbers, while at least developing a back to the basket move (like, even one move), then I’ll reconsider.

But right now, plateauing at 23 years old, I just don’t see it.