Rakeem Christmas

Christmas made minimal contributions in his first three collegiate campaigns, despite his status as a regular member of Syracuse's starting lineup. As a senior, though, he forecast his emergence with a massive 15-point, 16-rebound performance against Hampton in the second game of the season. Once the ACC schedule tipped off, he notched eight additional double-doubles en route to a formidable season-long line (17.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 1.5 assists, and 0.9 steals in 34 minutes). The 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward-center also showed himself well from both the field (56 percent for his career) and the free-throw line (72 percent combined in his final two seasons) for a player with his size. After earning third-team All-American, first-team All-ACC, ACC All-Defensive Team, and ACC Most Improved Player honors, he was selected in the second round in June, but his initial team, the Timberwolves, dealt Christmas to the Cavaliers on draft night, before he was sent to Indiana in late July. Securing a multi-year contract with Pacers, he'll likely serve as a project with more established options (Paul George, Jordan Hill, and Ian Mahinmi) and first-round pick Myles Turner blocking his path to frontcourt minutes.