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Atlantic 10 Basketball: Ranking of top 20 players from the league since 2000

By Adam Bernstein

DAYTON, OH - FEBRUARY 28: Obi Toppin #1 of the Dayton Flyers is seen during the game against the Davidson Wildcats at UD Arena on February 28, 2020 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH - FEBRUARY 28: Obi Toppin #1 of the Dayton Flyers is seen during the game against the Davidson Wildcats at UD Arena on February 28, 2020 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Atlantic 10 Basketball
Atlantic 10 Basketball Guard Dionte Christmas (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images) /

16. Dionte Christmas – Temple Owls

Dionte Christmas played four seasons with the Temple Owls playing a total of 130 games. The Philadelphia Native averaged 15.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists over the course of his collegiate career. Christmas makes the list because when he played for Temple, they were a part of the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Owls now play in the American Athletic Conference.

In his freshman season, Christmas played in all 32 games, making a lone start in the final game of the season. He averaged just 3.5 points per game. The ceiling was set so much higher for Christmas going into college who performed well in high school. Christmas had the potential of being the next star for Temple and needed to have a big breakout season.

In his sophomore season, Christmas completely flipped the switch. He played in all 30 games, starting 29, as he earned second-team All-Atlantic 10 honors, and was named the Atlantic 10’s Most Improved Player. He also earned first-team All-Philadelphia Big 5, Big 5 Most Improved Player. The guard averaged 20.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Christmas would finally live up to the hype he was receiving out of high school.

In his junior season, Christmas started all 34 games while averaging 19.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Christmas continued to display an impressive stat line which resulted in the Most Outstanding Player of the Atlantic 10 Tournament, first-team All-Atlantic 10, and first-team Big 5 honors.

In his senior season, he was named to the All-Atlantic 10 first team and the Atlantic 10 Tournament Most Outstanding Player for the second consecutive year. In 34 games, he averaged 19.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.

Christmas would finish his Temple career with 2,043 points, becoming the fourth player in school history to reach the 2,000 point mark. He ended up getting opportunities to play professionally overseas and in the NBA later in his career.

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