CHESTER, Pa. — Rakeem Christmas is focused on adjusting to changes this season instead of making a decision on where to play college basketball.
So far, that’s working out well for the 6-foot-9, 230-lb. center/power forward from Philadelphia, one of the most highly sought after players in the Class of 2011.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced in early October that Philadelphia Catholic League power North Catholic would close after this year. Christmas averaged 10.2 points as a sophomore.
Christmas made a proactive move in the offseason when he transferred to Academy of the New Church after a busy summer playing AAU basketball.
“It’s been kinda hard,” Christmas said. “The academics have been more than I expected. We do a lot more work.”
On Monday at the Jameer Nelson/Pete Nelson Scholastic Play-by-Play Classic, Christmas scored ten points and grabbed five rebounds in a 53-41 loss to defending AAAA state-champion Penn Wood (4-3) at Widener University’s Schwartz Athletic Center.
Christmas was in foul trouble for most of the game, picking up two fouls in the first quarter and a third five seconds after being inserted in the second quarter. He was limited to 12 minutes of play in the game.
“They get me the ball more here,” Christmas said. “They expect me to do more things here. At my other school they pretty much let me do whatever I wanted, they just wanted me to score.”
Christmas has not stopped scoring at ANC, averaging 12.5 points this season for coach Kevin Givens’ Lions.
“The first thing we talked about was academics, and he’s transitioned well,” Givens said. “He brings us a post presence to our basketball team, a lot of defense and shot-blocking. He brings some physical toughness in the paint.”
Givens sees room for improvement in Christmas.
“We’re going to work on his perimeter play, in the ten to 15 feet range, and some of his low-post stuff as well,” Givens said.”
Any improvement to Christmas’ defensive and post play will be part of the learning curve that Christmas hopes to continue in college.
Earlier this month, Christmas announced that Florida, Florida International, Georgetown, Oklahoma and Texas were his final list of college choices.
“I like Florida has put a lot of big men into the (NBA), they do a lot to prepare you for the (NBA), and they win championships,” Christmas said.
“I also like Florida because of the weather,” Christmas said on a day where temperatures dropped as low as 28 °F.
Christmas is not in any hurry to choose where he will play in college, instead choosing to focus on school and the current season.
“I will probably make my decision next year after school ends,” Christmas said. “I’m probably taking my official visit next year.”
Florida has already received verbal commitments for the 2011 signing class from a pair of 6’3” shooting guards, Bradley Beal and Austin Rivers. Christmas said he speaks with both players, mostly focusing the conversations on basketball.
Christmas has the attention of the Gators’ coaches, maintaining a relationship at the top.
“I pretty much talk to coach Donovan at Florida,” Christmas said. “They tell me I’ve been getting better. They just want me to go out and play hard.”
When it comes to recruiting, Christmas gets help from his aunt and legal guardian, Amira Hamid, so he can avoid distractions. Hamid and Christmas are both natives of St. Croix, Virgin Islands. Christmas joined Hamid in Philadelphia, where she attended college.
Their relationship has helped Christmas to remain grounded and humble. Coupled with his defensive presence, broad shoulders and body frame that projects to hold more muscle, Christmas will draw comparisons to former Gators’ star and current Atlanta Hawks power forward Al Horford, a Dominican Republic native.
The Gators would happily welcome another budding frontcourt player with roots in the Caribbean.