Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski
Christmas Named To Lute Olson Award Watch List
1/21/2015 11:27:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Rakeem Christmas is one of 25 student-athletes across the country on the Lute Olson Award Mid-Season Watch List
BOSTON, Mass. – Rakeem Christmas' career season has him on the Lute Olson Award Mid-Season Watch List. He is one of 25 other men's basketball student-athletes in the running for the accolade awarded to the Nation's top Division I player who has played at least two seasons.
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The award is named in honor of coaching great Lute Olson, who won 780 games in 34 seasons, 24 of which were spent at the University of Arizona. The 2015 recipient will be announced at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Banquet on April 3 in Indianapolis, site of the 2015 men's NCAA Basketball Championship.
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Christmas joins fellow ACC standouts, Justin Anderson (Virginia), Jerian Grant (Notre Dame), Montrezl Harrell (Louisville) and Marcus Paige (North Carolina) on this list.
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So far this season, Christmas has battled beneath the boards for six double-doubles, has scored in double figures in 18-of-19 contests and finished five games with 20 points or more. His season is highlighted by his 35-point effort against Wake Forest, which stands as the best scoring performance in the ACC thus far. It is also the third best performance by a center in Syracuse history since 1970.
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In the ACC, he ranks second in scoring (18.0), second in blocks (2.6) and is tied for fourth in rebounding (8.9) and field goals (.600). His field goal percentage also has him 11th in the nation.
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Christmas is also nominated for the 2015 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams.
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The award is named in honor of coaching great Lute Olson, who won 780 games in 34 seasons, 24 of which were spent at the University of Arizona. The 2015 recipient will be announced at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Banquet on April 3 in Indianapolis, site of the 2015 men's NCAA Basketball Championship.
Â
Christmas joins fellow ACC standouts, Justin Anderson (Virginia), Jerian Grant (Notre Dame), Montrezl Harrell (Louisville) and Marcus Paige (North Carolina) on this list.
Â
So far this season, Christmas has battled beneath the boards for six double-doubles, has scored in double figures in 18-of-19 contests and finished five games with 20 points or more. His season is highlighted by his 35-point effort against Wake Forest, which stands as the best scoring performance in the ACC thus far. It is also the third best performance by a center in Syracuse history since 1970.
Â
In the ACC, he ranks second in scoring (18.0), second in blocks (2.6) and is tied for fourth in rebounding (8.9) and field goals (.600). His field goal percentage also has him 11th in the nation.
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Christmas is also nominated for the 2015 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams.
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Players Mentioned
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