UTICA, N.Y. - Fab Melo went from disappointment as a freshman to Big East Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore and sophomore-to-be Rakeem Christmas is hoping for a similar jump as he looks to replace Melo at center this coming year.

While he was not the underachiever that Melo was in his rookie season, Christmas only managed 2.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game despite starting 35 of SU's 37 games. However he bumped those averages to 5.0 and 5.3 along with two blocks per game during the NCAA tournament in Melo's absence.

In addition to working out at SU's practice facility Christmas is keeping himself in game-mode by playing in the King of Kings summer league in Utica, one of six Orange players doing so. He and James Southerland will go head-to-head with Brandon Triche, Michael Carter-Williams, and Dajuan Coleman Monday night at Utica Notre Dame High School starting at 6:45. C.J. Fair will play in the following game starting at 8:00.