SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) β Syracuse’s Rakeem Christmas has evolved from role player to star as a senior.
This season, the Orange’s 6-foot-9, 250-pound center is shooting 60 percent from the floor and averaging 18 points β second in the Atlantic Coast Conference to standout Duke freshman Jahlil Okafor β and 8.9 rebounds. Christmas also has 40 blocks to raise his career total to 203. He is making 72.9 percent (78 of 107) of his free throws and has scored the decisive points in three games.
Last week, Christmas averaged 28 points and 9.5 rebounds in two games to earn ACC player of the week honors for the second time this season and he’s averaging 12.2 more points per game than he did as a junior. That’s the best improvement by any player in the ACC.
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