Syracuse Basketball Draftees in 2015

During the 2015 NBA Draft, Syracuse basketball had two players picked within the first 40 draftees. These two players were senior Rakeem Christmas and freshman Chris McCullough. Boeheim had Christmas on staff for four years, during with he completed an undergraduate and graduate degree. McCullough left after a freshman campaign that was cut short due to injury, becoming another Orange that was one-and-done.

Christmas who played in 142 games for the Orange over his four years on campus, had a break out season his senior year. He was the ACC’s Most Improved Player, Part of the All-ACC Team, the ACC’s All-Defensive Team, and was named a second team All-American. Through his career Christmas averaged 7.5 points per game and in his senior season averaged 17.5 per game. Other averages included 5.8 rebounds per game over his career and 1.7 blocks. You can see his career statistics here.

The center who is 6’9″ was originally picked by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round 36th overall. Christmas was traded during draft-night to the Cleveland Cavaliers and had participated in the Cavaliers summer league. Looking down the road though with the re-signing of Kevin Love and the almost guaranteed signing of Tristan Thompson, it seemed that there was no room for Christmas on the roster.

This resulted in Christmas being traded to the Indiana Pacers, which also may not have the room for a young player like Christmas. Granted, he has received a four-year $4.5 million contract, with at least half of that guaranteed. Christmas could come off of the bench behind Pacers veteran Ian Mahinmi and the recent pick up from the Lakers, free agent Jordan Hill. In addition there are three other centers on the roster. This could either pan out as Chritsmas being a back up player or being placed in the D-League depending on how much work he puts on.

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Chris McCullough (Syracuse) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number twenty-nine overall pick to the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Chris McCullough was a five-star recruit out of New York City that was highly touted coming into his college career. Like Syracuse great Carmelo Anthony, McCullough was a big apple boy heading to upstate to ball. Another similarity McCullough had to Anthony was that he was going to be a one-and-done. On January 12, 2015 McCullough had a halt in his plans. While in a game against Florida State he tore his right ACL.

Only appearing in 16 games during his freshman campaign, the 6’10” forward put up some valuable numbers. He averaged over nine points, two blocks, and just about seven rebounds per game. You can see McCullough’s full statistics here. After a lot of talk and commotion as to whether he was ready or not or if being one-and-done was a big mistake cause of the injury, McCullough decided for the 2015 NBA Draft anyways.

Come draft day, McCullough is selected in the first round, 29th overall and was picked by his hometown team, the Brooklyn Nets. He received a contract of four years with potential of receiving about $5.8 million, but is guaranteed two years at $2.3 million. Despite his injury, which he has spent over four months rehabbing, and according to former coach Jim Boeheim McCullough has all the essentials to being a great basketball player but just need to get stronger overall. At only 20 years old there is a possibility McCullough could not play due to his injury but could be a great talent and big man on the court for the Nets in the years to come.

Both players have made Orange nation proud and will continue to successfully follow their dreams in the NBA.