CSNbbs

Too bad, thought he had some serious upside.

Wow. I am very surprised by this one. The team gets significantly better and he wants out.
Best of luck to him.

This says it all right here.

“I just felt like I needed a change that would benefit myself more,” Christmas told the Daily News-Record

Just going to dial for minutes. The new transfer rules will make this common every year with all but the guys who know they will start giving serious consideration to transferring. A new reality none of us may like but won't change.

I’m surprised, but not surprised. He wanted more minutes, if not to start, and honestly, I think he probably deserved the extra minutes.

His girlfriend (on JMU women’s team) is transferring as well

(03-15-2021 03:59 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote: [ -> ]His girlfriend (on JMU women’s team) is transferring as well

Don't follow the women's team as much anymore, but who is that?

Women's basketball hit by the transfer bug like men's nowadays

(03-15-2021 03:59 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote: [ -> ]His girlfriend (on JMU women’s team) is transferring as well

Well, there’s the real story.

this sucks, curious to see where he ends up. If it's playing time, hard to transfer ☝

☝

up...pointy finger does not post

I believe he started dating the Canadian player in his first semester at JMU.

I am not surprised he is transferring. He wants to be a starter but his problem is that his energy on the court is inconsistent. It tends to ebb and flow with his offensive performance. He also isn’t a great defender.

I do not see him starting for JMU. He is a rotation guy. He certainly has some talent but not enough to beat out others on the roster for playing time. I expect he will lose even more playing time with the new class that will come in. Byington if upgrading the talent so Christmas is likely to be recruited over.

(03-16-2021 12:11 AM)JMUNation Wrote: [ -> ]I believe he started dating the Canadian player in his first semester at JMU.

I am not surprised he is transferring. He wants to be a starter but his problem is that his energy on the court is inconsistent. It tends to ebb and flow with his offensive performance. He also isn’t a great defender.

I do not see him starting for JMU. He is a rotation guy. He certainly has some talent but not enough to beat out others on the roster for playing time. I expect he will lose even more playing time with the new class that will come in. Byington if upgrading the talent so Christmas is likely to be recruited over.

Your last possibility is unlikely. Christmas is an immensely talented player. If HCMB is recruiting “over” Christmas JMU will be in the running for some very rare talent indeed.

I agree with the energy part. A positive way of looking at it is that Christmas is a smooth and talented player. Negative would be that he sometimes is kind of floating out there around the perimeter etc. I think Coach By and the new JMU defense got Christmas to play a little less on cruise control especially on defense where with his size and athletic ability he actually could be very effective at times. Like Nation said a lot of what he was going to give you on a give ln day was dictated by how well his shot was going in from 3 so dukes to that inconsistency I didn’t see him as a starter next season so I get why he is transferring. Will be interesting to see where he lands and how he develops at another program.

Just not a good fit. Had heard he was the question mark since Byington got here - pretty obvious to see doesn't really play with the motor Coach B's system requires. He will be a good fit elsewhere.

The team next year would have been better with Christmas than without him. His experience as a third-year on a very young team would have lent some needed maturity. It was pretty obvious he wanted (expected) to be a starter, and perhaps he will find that opportunity elsewhere. His progress will be worth watching. I wouldn’t be surprised if he turns into another “Cooke” type player JMU will miss when it’s all said and done.

You guys have hit the head on the nail. Albeit very talented, his playing style didn't fit, he was a disinterested defender and he doesn't have a motor. I also think he needs to get in better shape and dedicate himself to the game if he wants to reach his full potential. If we're really being honest, not sure Wooden's playing style fits Byington's system, although I'd like to see a game in person to judge that better. Byington's system is based on relentless pace, of course. He likes to play 1 big with 4 guards. Cam Holden, on paper, seems to be a perfect fit and he's an excellent rebounder at 6-5.

I don’t see Christmas as immensely talented and a Cooke like player. Given his size, he should be a dominant force in the paint but I saw a guy who played soft many times. He got pushed around and to the floor quite a bit. With Lewis out, he had the opportunity to fill the void and get more minutes yet he disappeared for the most park.

For me, Christmas lacks toughness and a high basketball IQ. He looked stoned at times. His weight was a real problem his Freshman year.

You put Christmas’s body with Edwards motor and you have an immensely talented player. As he is, you have a rotation player with a lot of potential.

(03-16-2021 10:47 PM)JMUNation Wrote: [ -> ]I don’t see Christmas as immensely talented and a Cooke like player. Given his size, he should be a dominant force in the paint but I saw a guy who played soft many times. He got pushed around and to the floor quite a bit. With Lewis out, he had the opportunity to fill the void and get more minutes yet he disappeared for the most park.

For me, Christmas lacks toughness and a high basketball IQ. He looked stoned at times. His weight was a real problem his Freshman year.

You put Christmas’s body with Edwards motor and you have an immensely talented player. As he is, you have a rotation player with a lot of potential.

You’re a fan of Edwards, and yet you denigrate Christmas’ basketball IQ? Pardon me while I chuckle.

All Cooke had was “potential” too...but JMU never benefited from it.

Christmas is a talented player with a big upside. He’s a Sophomore, and if I understand things correctly, doesn’t he retain this COVID year of eligibility? That gives Christmas 3 more years at JMU (if he chooses to use them). A lot of maturing and development can happen in 3 years. I think his upside is quite high, and would benefit the JMU MBB program.

Only time will tell how Christmas’ college career will turn out. I’m very sorry to see him leave (should he follow through on his decision).

(03-17-2021 01:49 AM)Longhorn Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-16-2021 10:47 PM)JMUNation Wrote: [ -> ]I don’t see Christmas as immensely talented and a Cooke like player. Given his size, he should be a dominant force in the paint but I saw a guy who played soft many times. He got pushed around and to the floor quite a bit. With Lewis out, he had the opportunity to fill the void and get more minutes yet he disappeared for the most park.

For me, Christmas lacks toughness and a high basketball IQ. He looked stoned at times. His weight was a real problem his Freshman year.

You put Christmas’s body with Edwards motor and you have an immensely talented player. As he is, you have a rotation player with a lot of potential.

You’re a fan of Edwards, and yet you denigrate Christmas’ basketball IQ? Pardon me while I chuckle.

All Cooke had was “potential” too...but JMU never benefited from it.

Christmas is a talented player with a big upside. He’s a Sophomore, and if I understand things correctly, doesn’t he retain this COVID year of eligibility? That gives Christmas 3 more years at JMU (if he chooses to use them). A lot of maturing and development can happen in 3 years. I think his upside is quite high, and would benefit the JMU MBB program.

Only time will tell how Christmas’ college career will turn out. I’m very sorry to see him leave (should he follow through on his decision).

You don’t comprehend the written word very well. I mentioned Edwards motor. Their are holes in Edwards game too but he makes up for those with his defensive intensity and the fact that he never stops moving.

I am not dismissing Christmas’s potential. I just don’t see him as irreplaceable. What holds him back is his lack of consistent energy. He gets lost on the court at times too. I would see other players directing him where to go when they were setting up the press.

Byington must agree with my assessment because Christmas averaged under 20 minutes a game this year. Christmas has talent but not enough to earn a starting position. Based on Byington’s first recruiting class, I expect he will bring in a player or two that will be better than Christmas and therefore Christmas’s role wouldn’t change much.

Cooke was a good defender at JMU and played with a lot of energy. His shooting percentage seemed to go up at Dayton. I know his average points per game did. I really don’t see the similarities between he and Christmas.

Christmas will transfer down to a low major and likely average more points per game. I don’t see his defense picking up because I don’t see his energy picking up but as you say, time will tell.