Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Wednesday’s  game highlighted what happens when Michael Christmas takes control. The graduate forward scored a career high 27 points, leading Longwood to a 85-76 home victory over UNC Asheville. 

Throughout his time at Longwood, Christmas has played several roles. Now in his fourth and final season, the 6’6 forward is also working to become more of a leader in this place that he says has become home. 

“Coming back for one last season means having more comfortability in my environment,” Christmas said. 

Comfortability on the court is an understatement. In three seasons with the Lancers, Michael Christmas has proven himself to be a commanding forward and force to be reckoned with. So far this season, he’s the team’s top scorer and rebounder, while working to lead by example. He doesn’t see himself as much of a vocal leader. Instead, Christmas said he believes his hustle, his work ethic can become contagious, to help generate a spark with the rest of the team. 

“I think seeing that influences how everyone plays,” Christmas added. “I can get fired up.” 

That fire comes from a love of the game, one that stretches all the way back to his early childhood. Christmas remembers his dad setting up the family’s first Little Tyke’s Easy Score basketball goal, which would soon be a source of competition. Christmas developed his style of play almost out of necessity, learning to compete with his brothers. As the youngest on the court, they would elbow him and give him a hard time, but it was that competition that helped him become the player he is today. 

Michael Christmas looks back 

Christmas graduated high school as a four-year captain, leading his team to two regional titles and being named Virginia Class 6 State Player of the Year twice. He broke out into college basketball at James Madison University, where he started 15 of his 30 games as a freshman. 

He then transferred to Longwood in 2021. Unable to play due to an injury, Christmas cheered his team on as they took home the Big South Championship. Christmas made his presence known the next season with 12 points in the first game, followed by double-digit scoring three games in a row. He made up for lost time by playing all 32 games, scoring an average of 7.9 points with 3.6 rebounds and .5 assists per game and helping the Lancers close 20 wins and take second place in the Big South standings.

After finishing his undergraduate education, Christmas dove into graduate school in fall 2023, pursuing his master’s in business administration with a real estate certificate. 

“Basketball was part of coming back to graduate school,” Christmas said, “having the opportunity to play another year and pay for my education was an easy decision.”

Christmas’ development and growth echo back to a discussion he and Longwood head coach Griff Aldrich had with the media back in October, at the Big South Media Day. 

Longwood wants to be known as a school where players develop, Aldrich said, a place where they get better at their craft throughout the season. And that improvement, in turn, helps drive the team to achieve those other things, the 20+ wins, the spot in the Big South Championship and eventually, the ticket to the NCAA tournament.

Focusing on a legacy 

It’s all about legacy. That’s something Christmas has started thinking about, as we head through January and pass the halfway point of his final season. How does he want to be remembered at Longwood? Having spent his time as an undergrad developing relationships with teammates and building a home, he’s excited to compete for the Big South conference title and give it everything he has. 

“I’ll definitely keep in contact with a lot of players,” says Michael about the lifelong relationships he’s built with fellow Lancers. “I already keep in contact with teammates who have left.” His dreams as a basketball player won’t end with his college career either. Thanks to a full resume and an incredible college career, Michael hopes to play professionally, continuing to grow and compete.

“I hope to be in a good position as far as basketball, have my dreams come true of making an NBA team in the future,” Christmas said. “Just working my way up and accomplishing the goals that I put on myself.”

Longwood is currently third in the Big South Conference, with just under two months until championships begin on March 5. Sitting at 13-5 after Wednesday’s win, the team will be back on the road this coming Saturday, heading to Rock Hill, South Carolina to take on Winthrop. Christmas said hopes are high for another Big South Championship win. But in the end, the real win might be getting a chance to play a few extra games with his team.

Editor’s note: Essie Somma wrote this story for the Farmville Herald.