#c: theo and killian

[musexmadness]

                                             [Killian & Theodosia]

You have reached the voicemail box for Killian-

“Killian, Theodosia. In case you haven’t noticed I’ve been trying to reach you for some time and I really do not appreciate being ignored. Why is it that I have to find out about these little accidents from the media rather than my client? How am I supposed to do my job if you tell me nothing? This is a partnership and honestly, I feel like I’m the one doing all the work. If you don’t call me back by tonight I will have no choice but to hunt you down. Thanks, bye.”

@paradisemuse

[intomusings]

﹒﹒   male   names   masterlist     !

in honor of my third milestone on here ( thank you sm ) , i’ve decided to release a master list of 400+male names i personally love and think could be used more in the community . this was also requested by a few anons and names will be added to the list frequently . the names are sorted by first letter but not alphabetically within each letter category . if you found this useful , feel free to like or reblog to spread this !

A : alston, ander, adamo, alex, austen, ace, arian, adrian, atlas, augustus, axel, archer, angel, archie, aaron, abel, asher, amir, adriel, andrew, ace, alejandro, arlo, adonis, atticus, abram, ambrose. 

B : bryce, bryson, benji, bellamy, banks, bear, beau, bentley, barrett, brody, brayden, bennett, braxton, bowen, briggs, baker, bruce, benson, bristol, boston, brycen, bryant, brock, brendan, bruno, byron, braden, bronson, braeson.

C : colton, cartier, cyrus, caleb, carter, cedric, carson, cohen, calvin, callum, casper, caspius, chase, cole, connor, camden, colt, caden, cash, crew, chance, clayton, cruz, cairo, corbin, colson, cesar, clark. 

D : damon, damien, darren, dylan, dominic, declan, dean, dario, drew, dimitri, dakota, dawson, daxton, dante, desmond, denver, dax, deacon, drake, derrick, darius, duke, deandre, dash, dilan, dayton, duncan, dior. 

E : eduardo, edward, elias, emilien, evan, easton, everett, emmett, enzo, ezra, elliot, emmanuel, ezekial, elias, emerson, eric, emory, edwin, elian, esteban, edison, emir, everest, eliseo, everley.

F : florencio, flynn, fabio, forester, francis, flynn, fallon, finn, finnick, felix, fernando, finnegan, fabian, ford, forbes, fletcher, fisher, fox, fitz, flint, fulton. 

G : giovanni, gage, gomez, grayson, griffin, grant, graham, gavin, grant, gianni, gunner, gideon, gregory, grey, gustavo, guillermo, gentry, gadiel, gabriel. 

H : halton, herman, holden, hayes, hudson, hayden, harrison, harlow, harvey, hugo, hank, henley, holland, hamza, hugh, houston, hakeem. 

I : isaac, icarius, idris, ian, ivan, isaiah, ismael, ilan, irvin, iain. 

J : julian, juniper, joao, joaquim, jordan, jaxton, joshua, josiah, javier, jayden, justin, jonah, jace, jasper, jay, jj, jackson, jeremiah, judah, joel, jensen, jaylen, jonas, jamal. 

K : kai, kolton, kaleb, klaus, kyrie, kingston, kayden, king, kobe, knox, kyler, kaden, khalil, kane, killian, keegan, kian, kamden, kieran, keanu, kyland, kareem, kasen, 

L : liam, lukas, logan, lucien, lawrence, leo, leighton, leon, lindell, lamar, latrell, larson, lance, levi, luke, landon, luca, lincoln, landon, lorenzo, london, lennox, leonel, lawson, luciano, layton, lux, leroy, lamar. 

M : micaiah, mateo, marcell, manny, mac, malcolm, mckay, meechie, matias, mason, maverick, mitch, murphy, miles, malachi, maddox, marshall, malik, moses, marvin, milo. 

N : noah, nicolai, nasir, nico, nash, neymar, naveen, nehemiah, nixon, nelson, nigel, niles, nolyn, namir. 

O : orlando, ozzy, oliver, omar, orion, otto, odin, otis, oskar, osvaldo, owen. 

P : peyton, parker, pearce, prince, preston, porter, pierre, penn, patton, paxton, paolo, pope, percy. 

Q : quentin, quinn, quint, quang. 

R : roman, rowan, reid, riggs, reece, rafael, ryland, roland, ronan, rhett, rhys, rory, rainer, roscoe, rocco, ryder, ryker, remington, russell, romeo, raiden, ruben, ridge, rex, rudy, remy. 

S : sawyer, spencer, salem, salvatore, stefan, samson, sebastian, samuel, santiago, silas, sutton, sterling, sully, sergio, seth, santino, santibel, soren, saint, samir, saul, sal, santos, slater, santino. 

T : tyson, tyrin, taylor, teagan, tobias, troye, tristan, tucker, theo, torrento, tanner, travis, tripp, trenton, trey, tomas, talon, thad, terrance, teddy. 

U : uriel, ulysesses, umar, urbane, uri, ursel, usher. 

V : valencio, victor, valence, valentino, vance, victor, vaughn, vincent, virgil, vernon, vander, vito, vero, villard. 

W : wick, walker, weston, wyatt, wolfgang, wells, wilder, wesley, walter, warren, wade, winston, watson, wiley, waylen. 

X : xavier, xander, xane, xavion, xavi, xiomar, xackery, xan. 

Y : yosef, yosan, york, yasir, yoel, yuri, yannis.

Z : zane, zakhar, zavier, zion, zahir, zev, zeus, zacharias.

[scvrllet]

MIND GAMES

A Captain Killian Jones (ouat) & Reader Oneshot

The past can come to back to haunt you in interesting ways to say the least but in Killian’s case, a rather unpleasant and painful way.

contains: they/them pronouns, father-child relationship type beat, being referred to as a Lost Boy (I wrote it in a gender neutral sense but feel free to switch to any term you feel comfortable with), death mention, possible derealization warning (1,052 words)

“Careful,” Hook said as he put an arm out to prevent Emma from walking forward. “He may look like a boy, but he’s a bloody demon.”

The captain was right to be wary considering he was standing on Neverland soil. And while it is wise to avoid Pan if you weren’t going to join him, it would also be smart to avoid having a history with any of the people who follow him.

“I think you’ve got the wrong boy captain.” A voice said as they emerged from the bushes.

Placing his hand on the handle of his sword, Killian's gaze hardened as the Lost Boy approached them with an almost taunting smile. "What? Wasn't expecting to see me captain?"

"No this- you can't be alive." He replied as his grip loosened on his sword. A feeling of guilt filled his chest as he took a few steps backwards.

"And why is that?" They replied, their smile growing wider as they started walking towards him. "Why would I not be alive captain? Is it because you shoved a sword through my heart?"

Killian had now fallen to the ground, eyes never leaving theirs as they looked down on him. The Lost Boy scoffed at the sight of the pirate cowering before crouching down to be at eye level with him. "I just wanted to protect my home and family but you wouldn't let that happen!" Their voice started to shake as they spoke, each word becoming louder until the point where it sounded like they were screaming. "I just wanted to be happy but you had to ruin it! First with Ruffio, than Theo, than Mason and then me."

Tears fell down their cheeks and Killian didn't even notice they had grabbed onto the collar of his shirt until they tugged at it, harshly. "Why couldn't you just leave us? We were finally happy but you had to separate us from the only family we had!"

Killian was already accepting whatever fate the Lost Boy had in store for him when their screaming had been suddenly cut short. Opening one eye to see exactly what had happened, Hook was met with the shocked expression of Emma Swan with a sword in hand aimed at the Lost Boy who turned into a shadow. It was a trick.

He watched in mixed horror and relief as (E/C) eyes glowed to become white and all colour drained to a black abyss. All before staring at him one more time as they flew up to the sky and out of sight, leaving Killian and Emma breathing heavy.

"What the hell was that?" Emma was the first to break the silence between them and despite him wanting to forget what had just happened, he knew there was no use in hiding.

"Pan's Shadow, likes to play tricks and mess with people." He answered knowing it didn't answer her question.

"Okay maybe I was too vague, who was that the Shadow was pretending to be? What'd you do?"

Hook sighed, fixing his shirt and hair before dropping his gaze to his feet. "That was (Y/N) the Shadow was acting like. I took them in a long time ago. Parents had kicked them out, or abandoned them rather, and I decided to take them in."

The ghost of a smile graced his lips as he seemed to reminisce on those memories but it quickly faded as he continued the rest of his story. "I saw them as my own kid, treated them like my own too. One day we got into a fight and I told them they can either shut it or leave. Stubborn kid took the emergency boat and left.

I didn't know where they ended up for months. I changed courses to find them, spent weeks in the middle of nowhere in hopes of finding them, or even a sign but there was none. Eventually, time came where I had to give up and get back on course and I soon had other things to worry about. Fast forward a couple more months, little Baelfire, or Neal, landed on my ship and it was great.``

He paused. A single tear slid down his face as he took a deep breath.

"Until I lost him too. Lost Boys came onto the ship, grabbed the boy and left. Pan had been terrorizing me and my crew for weeks before but even after I gave him Bae he never stopped. I decided to stop it once and for all, come onto the island and find a way to their little camp but just as the fight broke out, I saw them."

"Neal?" Emma asked.

Hook shook his head. "(Y/N). They had ended up on Neverland somehow, and I was already too deep to leave and..."

"You killed them." Emma finished his sentence, waiting for him to deny or accept the answer before dropping her sword and walking away as he nodded his head.

The silence that filled the air around him afterwards was deafening, leaving him alone with his thoughts and doubts.

"Funny isn't it?" A new voice, this one belonging to a bloody demon as he previously mentioned. And this time, Killian knew it wasn't a trick, because the Shadow wouldn't need to pretend to be it's owner. Especially when they found great pleasure in taunting the pirate by themselves.

"What do you want, Pan?"

"Isn't it funny how despite the years we spend telling ourselves we're over it, that a single encounter can bring back a million doubts? Even if it was all a trick." Pan said, ignoring Hook's question to continue his taunting. "Crazy how guilt rushes back to us once-"

"I would choose your next words wisely boy."

A smirk grew on Pan's lips as he paused. "Or else what? A pirate who's still grieving after a hundred years is going to do something about?"

Killian found himself unable to speak. He tried, desperately, to get the boy's taunting to end, but nothing came out. The demon seemed to enjoy his struggling and even mockingly encouraged him until the pirate finally got a word.

Laughter cut off his sentence, maniacal laughter, as the pirate looked up to see what he thought was the boy faded to the similar silhouette of the Shadow.

[imaginefan]

Mobile Masterlist (N - Z) Part 6

Once Upon A Time

Emma Swan

All You Do Is Work

Child Actor

English Language

Love The Same *Part 1* *Part 2*

My Anaconda Don’t

Shake It Off

Soccer

Henry Mills

Spoiled *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Jefferson 

Lost Daughter *Part 1* *Part 2*

Jennifer Morrison

Bambi

Colleagues

Cute Kisses

Day On Set

Near Her

Now You’re In Trouble

Partners On Set

Violation

Killian Jones

Love The Same *Part 1*

Regina Mills

Mmm.

Secrets Mum *Part 1* *Part 2*

Sabine/ Princess Tiana

Great New People *Part 1* *Part 2*

Riverdale

FP Jones

Hey Dad

Jughead Jones

Not Because Of A Serpent (Prompt)

Scared To Be Lonely

Sweet Pea 

The Serpents Northside Princess *Intro*  *Part 1*  *Part 2*

S.W.A.T

Jim Street

Cute Stuff

Priorities

Secret Circle

Adam Conant

Dance Dance

Trust Issues

Jake Armstrong

Back To Save You *Part 1* *Part 2*

Hiding

What Would You Know? *Part 2*

Nick Armstrong

What Would You Know?

Shadowhunters

Izzy Lightwood

I’m Not Sorry

Raphael Santiago

Everything Makes Sense

Take My Suggestion

Suicide Squad

Supernatural

Castiel

Almost… Well Not Really

Missed Signals

Dean Winchester

1 Year Left

Big Brother

Got Him

Gabriel

Guardian Angel

Little Things

Sam Winchester

Pain And All

Teen Wolf

Derek Hale

Why Have I Never Heard Of Him? *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Issac Lahey

18th

I Could Take You To Paris

Liam Dunbar 

Why Would I Stop?

Lydia Martin 

Collision

Malia Tate

Sibling Love

McCall Pack

Lone Wolf *Part 1* *Part 2*

Peter Hale

Avoidance

Scott McCall

Different Objectives

Stiles Stilinski

My Nerd

School Antics

Run

Theo Raeken 

Why Theo!?

The Flash

Cisco Ramon

Names

PDA In The Lab

Super Suit

The Guy At The Bar

They Missed You

Hunter Zoloman

Forget You

Team Flash

No Secrets

The Vampire Diaries/The Originals

Alaric Saltzman

Always Attractive

Get Confidence *Part 1* *Part 2*

I Do

Bonnie Bennett

Lost Confidence *Part 1* *Part 2*

Damon Salvatore

Breathe

Broken Glasses

I Thought It Was Him *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

It’s Always Her *Part 1* c

Lake Party

Like Kids *Part 1* *Part 2*

Step Back

What’s Going On?

Davina Claire

Lil Sister *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Elijah Mikaelson

3 Siblings 1 Suitor *Part 1*  *Part 2*  *Part 3*

Advice For A Brother-In-Law *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

All Wrong

Cleaning Day

Cry Song

One Last Word

My Surprise

Smooth *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Two Strict Ones

You Meant Something *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3* *Part 4* *Part 5*

We Need Her (Prompt)

Freya Mikaelson 

Best Of The Bunch

Jeremy Gilbert

Fight Between Friends

Rescued You *Part 1*  *Part 2* *Part 3*

Saviour In The Witch *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3* *Part 4* *Part 5* *Part 6*

Questions Questions *Part 1* *Part 2*

Lorenzo St. John

2 Dresses

Changed Name *Part 1* *Part 2*

How About Dinner *Part 1* *Part 2*

Not My First Funeral *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Quit It *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Whatever Right *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3* *Part 4* *Part 5*

Lucien Castle

Abandon The Plan *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Crybaby

Great

Growing Feelings

Liking To Power

Not Just Crazy

Wha Do We Have Here?

Kai Parker

Liking To Power

Klaus Mikaelson

3 Siblings 1 Suitor *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

800 Years

Advice For A Brother-In-Law *Part 1*  *Part 2*  *Part 3*

Culebra

Human Attributes *Part 1* *Part 2*

I Was Yours

Matching Marks

Not My First Funeral

Repeat Of History

The Other Hybrid Brother *Part 1*  *Part 2* *Part 3*

They’ll Never Expect It (Prompt)

You Should Know *Part 1* *Part 2*

Katherine Pierce

Hey Baby

I’d Rather You Didn’t

Kol Mikaelson

All Good Thing

Bickering

Followed *Part 1* *Part 2*

Saviour In The Witch *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3* *Part 4* *Part 5*

Still Here

Marcel Gerard

Lost Touch

Smooth *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Matt Donovan

Fight Between Friends

Man Or Monster

Movie Dates

Questions Questions *Part 1* *Part 2*

Mikaelson Siblings

Electrical Fault

The Werewolf Gene *Part 1* *Part 2*

Rebekah Mikaelson

3 Siblings 1 Suitor *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Hand In Marriage *Part 1* *Part 2*

Hurt Again

Love… *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

New Information 

Stefan Salvatore

I’ll Help You

I Know How You Feel *Part 1* *Part 2*

I Thought…

I Thought It Was Him *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Like Kids *Part 1* *Part 2*

Memories

Sorry About The Family

Tyler Lockwood

Questions Questions *Part 1* *Part 2*

Watch Yourself

The Walking Dead

Daryl Dixon

I’m Different

Glenn Rhee

New World New Life

Maggie Rhee

Be With Family

New World New Life

Vikings

Ivar Ragnarsson

Sluggish

Wonder Woman

Diana Prince

Paper Weapons *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3* *Part 4*

Reassurance And A Hug

Wrongly Accused *Part 1*  *Part 2*  *Part 3*  *Part 4*  *Part 5*

Requests and general question!

Next Part ---->

[isfsinfo]

Top 30 NBA rukija u SFKL ligi

Igrači su rangirani na osnovu statističkih kategorija SFKL lige.

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[underwoodinc]

Ways To Make My Life Extraordinary - Theodoro "Theo" Mather

Word count: 2,783

TW: Mentions of abduction, children in danger

Taglist: @goblin-writer @trapped-inadystopianovel @fragmentedink  @marewriteblr @xcxbxlx @toboldlywrite

I was abducted by aliens once.

When I was a kid we'd go upstate, this house we'd rent by the lake. It wasn't one of the fancy smancy ones, like across the water. 

But it was big, old, and wonderful. It had a walk around porch. When I close my eyes I can hear the sound of our sneakers all pounding on it as we ran out the door to play in the woods.

The summer I was seven, was the last summer I got to be the baby of the family. Later that fall Ma would announce she was pregnant.

My memories of being the youngest wasn't anything too bad, or exceptionally idyllic either. 

I wasn't really excluded, and at the same time I understood when I wasn't wanted. 

I think with us being relatively close in age made a difference too. 

The summer I was seven was the summer Marie was eight, the twins eleven, and Julia Anna was twelve.

The same summer Jules, Davey and Killian all discovered the Carmichael kids across the water. They had water skis and golden retrievers, golden hair and were all tanned and dimpled. 

And so the summer started with those three heading off to town, hoping to run into them. And thus leaving Marie and I to our own devices.

The same way I can hear our sneakers running on the wood porch, I can smell the dust as we ran through the woods. See the shadows the trees cast on us. And the sun on my back as we swam.

I never got sunburnt, but she did. No matter how much sunscreen she slathered on, poor Marie came home the end of the day red. 

It was David's idea, the second week that summer, that we try swimming at night then, to shut up her whining.

"But there might be snakes." She said, teary as Dad applied aloe to her shoulders. 

"There's snakes around during the day too." 

"But I can't see them at night." 

"Yeah that's true," Killian said from his corner in the living room. "There's a lot of stuff you can't see out there at night. Snakes, bears, mountain lions…"

Marie didn't answer, she looked down at her peeling knees, while Dad told Kill to knock it off.

"But you said there were!" Killian said, "Before we came here, you said they've been seeing bears up here so don't go too far into the woods."

Marie's green eyes widened and she looked up at Dad, "You didn't tell me!"

"There are no bears." He said, glancing at Killian to shut up if he knew was was good for him. 

Because if that, it was David who said that actually, Kelly Carmichael saw one out her window last night. 

Which is why her and her siblings are only allowed in town and outside the front of the house.

Marie's eyes filled with tears as she ran upstairs. I went after her, taking the tube of aloe from Dad.

Dad who had jumped up, and was now towering over the twins who only then realized the error of their ways.

I thought about how her knees must be on fire now, moving so fast as she did. I also knew she'd be crying, saying she didn't want to play outside anymore.

That Daddy wanted her to get eaten by a bear. That she wanted to go home. 

A variation of this happened every year. Marie got homesick as easily as she got her feelings hurt. 

I always felt so bad. Sometimes I'd think to myself, that my sister absorbed my feelings too. 

Like a sponge, she took all my sadness, and all the stuff I was scared of, so while she was the one that cried from holding it all, I was the one that was brave for both of us.

Maybe as I reapplied the aloe onto her knees, I could give her some of my bravery. 

"I don't want to go swimming to-to-tomorrow…" She sniffed, "I'm sorry Theo, I'm sorry…"

"Want some water?" 

"I just..I just.." She coughed, and ran an arm under her nose. 

"Want some water?" 

She nodded, and I gave her the rest of the aloe. Climbing off the bed, telling her I'd be right back.

I slid down the railing, like Mom showed us last year, and could hear Daddy from the living room. 

Mama and Jules were in the kitchen. I could smell the apples and strawberries Mama was cutting up at the counter. Jules looked up from her magazine, and asked me what the twins did this time.

"Marie wants some water." I got two bottles from the fridge. 

"What they say to her this time?" Jules repeated patiently.

"They said Kelly Carmichael saw a bear in the woods." 

Jules had mastered the teenage smirk, and doled it out generously, like now. Proof enough to me that the twins were teasing. Not that I hadn't figured it out yet.

I could hear Dad, stilling chewing out the twins, and sentencing them to being nice to Marie all day tomorrow. 

The way he said it, told me he meant they wouldn't be seeing Kelly anytime soon. 

"Come on, Bebe." Mom had scooped the fruit into a bowl, and began up the stairs with me. 

The twins came upstairs too, some time later when Marie and I had gotten checkers out, and began playing.

They said sorry, and Marie said softly that it was okay. 

"But, look, we do gotta tell you something. The real thing that's out in the woods."

"I'm getting Daddy." I got only one foot dangling off the bed, when David grabbed me and pushed me back up.

"No, we're serious." He said, "We're not trying to scare you Marie, but you need to know what's out there."

"You too, Theo." Killian said, "We have to make sure you guys don't do anything stupid."

"Mama said you're both just being bromistas." Marie crossed her arms.

"Fine, don't listen to us."

"Killian, Dad said we have to warn them!" David pushed his shoulder.

"Warn us about what?" She asked, looking over at them.

The twins exchanged a glance, and said nothing at first. "You said we're just being bromistas." Killian shrugged.

"Warn us about what?" Marie looked between them.

The twins exchanged a glance, silently asking the other if they should impart this secret. 

They made us huddle close, and whispered the real reason why we needed to be careful in the woods.

Ways to make my life extraordinary?

I'll tell myself, all that happened that summer, was Marie and I were abducted by aliens.

That the twins had been completely serious, about UFOs flying over the lake at night.

That there had been sightings all over the newspaper. That the story about wild cats and bears was meant to keep kids like us inside, so we wouldn't be scared by the real reason: There were aliens, over Lake Persimmon.

I remember the moon that night, I remember the boat, the woods, our flashlights going up to the starry sky.

I've read the official report.

But there's some other stuff. 

The crazy stuff. The stuff I've never asked Marie to collaborate, but to me is so clear. 

Sometimes, I don't know if I really remember it, or if I just want to stick with the crazy story. 

So, first, I'll tell you what I remember first hand. Then, I'll tell you what the news, police, and everyone else says happened.

The revelation had the opposite effect that Killian and David were probably hoping for. 

That night we laid in the large bed, holding each other and looking out at the open window. We watched the water and sky, waiting to see them.

We tried for three nights, and fell asleep each time before they showed up.

So, I had a plan. 

It was midnight, we had stored away cans of coke and candy from the pantry upstairs, and gorged til we were shivering with sugar. 

Wide awake, and armed with a backpack of flashlights, a kitchen knife just in case, more soda, binoculars, and a disposable camera,  we crept downstairs.

The only creatures that knew we were up were the crickets, cicadas, and fireflies, the owl we saw in the tree as we ran down the familiar path. 

It was one that went right to the docks near the water, small boats were tied and put on shore. There was a shack to rent them, and looking back it was pretty archaic.

Because there was nothing to stop two kids from taking one and pushing it into the water.

But as we got closer, I realized I was alone. Marie wasn't next to me. 

"Marie?" I called, looking around. "Marie? Where are you?" I started to walk back, taking a flashlight out of the bag. 

The bag with the lights, the knife, with everything we needed. I imagined Marie alone in the dark without me.

I wondered then, if she had really wanted to come. Or if it was just because I wanted to. Maybe she got scared, and tried to turn back to go home. 

"Marie!" I called louder, hearing my voice echo, and getting no answer. The path seemed longer than it ever had been. Darker than it ever had been.

The wind too, seemed stronger. It was so strong, I could see the brush and branches move and shake. It was warm too.

The path lit up before me, as bright as day. I felt light, so light that the backpack fell from my shoulders. 

I grabbed it and looked down. I could see the tree tops, the house, the lake. Like I was flying. 

I looked up, squinting at the bright light, but I remember I wasn't scared. I just let go of the weight of the backpack. It fell down.

And something else came to my hand, and held it. Marie's hand in mine, one that I knew so well. 

She was next to me again. Dried tear tracks on her cheeks, her face calm as she slowly looked back at me. Squeezing my hand.

We didn't see what abducted us. I don't remember the inside of the UFO, but I remember star dust. 

Green, bright, all around me as I floated. It was surging around my body like a million little gnats. It struck me as a word I didn't have in my vocabulary then, but do now. Celestial. 

Like a million little stars running between my fingers. Like understanding that there was more than my family and I. More than my little simple world at home. At Lake Persimmon. 

I could see the galaxies beyond, and I wanted to be there. To be part of it. To reach out and catched the dust, that no one else could touch.

The next thing I was aware of, my leg was hurting. Coincidentally it was the leg I would later lose. The left one.

I was laying on the ground in the woods. And Marie was not with me. 

I just stayed there, listening to the woods for a while. I think I could have gotten up myself, but I didn't want to. Not until I heard my mother call my name.

Not until I felt my Dad's arms under me, picking me up.  

"Where's Marie?!"

I started to cry.

This is what's in the police report. What has been collected from my parents, from other searchers. What they pieced together. And what information came later.

Sometime at one in the morning, Mama woke up, and said she felt something wasn't right. She went to the bedroom Marie and I shared, and saw we weren't there.

When she couldn't find us, she woke the whole house. When they couldn't find us, the police were called.

It was almost three in the morning, when Dad said he saw me, laying on the trail in the woods. The trail just before the bend that leads to the docks.

He said I was awake. I responded to him when he picked me up. And when they asked me what happened, and where was Marie; I started to cry.

Seven the following morning, they found Marie. She was in town, sitting on a bench, calmly, like she was waiting for them.

Both of us were quiet, the report put us both in catatonic states as the police tried to ask what happened. 

The backpack was never found. Never seen again. Before we left the house I tried to look for it with Julia and David, but it never turned up. 

According to follow ups, Marie and I didn't start to speak again until a week after we went back home.

I say according because my memory is hazing there. I remember looking for the backpack. I remember us not being out of anyone's sight for a while.

I don't remember not speaking, but I do remember the twins crying at one point.

 remember David running out the room, when I said we were looking for aliens that night.

A few months later, they arrested a couple named Vivian and Ben Davis. They were locals, who had a farm just before the town line. 

Ben Davis was several months late on car payments. His van was being towed, and the repo guy came when both of them were out "tending" to their malnourished cows.

According to the Repo, they began loading the car up, when he heard something heavy crash into the driver's seat inside.

I'll leave it to your imagination, what he saw through the window, that prompted him to call the police. 

Who were thus prompted to get a warrant and rifle through the house, and eventually find a tub of photographs.

The photos were from years past; the couple themselves, friends, different pets, etc. Things you'd expect, except for one envelope buried at the bottom.

In that envelope were photos, one of which were of Marie and I. In their van, chains around our legs, holding each other, with socks in our mouths.

The other photos showed other kids the same way. We were ones that could immediately be identified. 

Our hands weren't bound, apparently thanks to Vivian, because she, thoughtfully, didn't want to hurt our wrists.

Okay, so, here's the thing. I can look at that photo, and I can remember that as well.

I can remember being picked up from behind and gagged. I can remember the weight of the chains around my ankles. I can remember looking out the driver's window from the back of the van, and holding tightly to Marie.

I can remember it as vividly as I remember floating over the woods. 

According to the Davis' confession, we ran. It was when we got to their farm and they pulled us out of the van.

Ben pulled our faces close to his, and said we would be good. He was going to unchain our legs, and then we would take his and Vivian's hands, and go inside to have dinner.

Obliviously soon as the chains were off, Marie took my hand and we ran the other way. 

I refuse to believe we were the only kids that did, but anyway, they lost us in the woods. They claim.

There is a blank space, in both versions, that I can't remember. Time between me seeing the stardust, and waking up. Between me in the van with Marie, and being carried by my dad.

Blank space. And I don't know what to do with it.

I remember both things so clearly. Is it possible they both happened? 

Am I crazy, for hoping so? Because sometimes I can still remember the stardust. I want to believe I touched it, and saw the world from above for a moment.

Ways to make my life Extraordinary?

I went back once, to look for the backpack. All these years later. Still never found it. I guess I didn't expect to.

Marie and I have both seen someone about it. Separately. But we've never talked about it to each other.

I tell the alien story sometimes. Not to anyone who knows my family too well. But I do.

And I can't say I fully believe it. But, it doesn't feel right to say I fully don't believe it.

I mean, I have a boss that can heal paper cuts with glowing hands. I met a girl who could move the clouds. I know a guy that's a full on Empath. I've been in a house with a reality warper. 

How can I say aliens are so out there? 

[sofrpc]

⌖*ﾟ— 550+ UNIQUE AND UNDERUSED MALE NAMES

as requested, i have created a masterlist of 550+ unique and underused male names ! these are all listed in alphabetical order, and although i dont claim any of these as my own, please don’t copy and paste straight into another masterlist. feel free to use the names in any way you like, i hope this gives you muse for your characters (my faves are bolded) — also smash that like or reblog if you found this useful, thank you !

A

abel, acacius, ace, achilles, adagio, adaiah, adalius, adley, adelio, adonis, adrian, adriel, aiden, akello, alain, alarik, alastair, alek, alfred, alfonzo, ali, alisio, alonzo, amari, amedeus, amias, amos, anakin, andre, ansel, anton, anwar, apollo, aragon, aramis, archer, aries, arlo, arrius, artemis, asher, ashton, asriel, atlas, atlantis, atticus, auden, august, auri, austin, avery, axel, aziel

B

bacchus, baden, bailey, baldwin, balin, balton, bandit, banks, barley, baxley, baxter, baze, bear, beau, beck, benson, bentley, berlin, bianco, bishop, blade, blaine, blaze, bode, bodhie, booker, bosley, boston, brandon, brantley, brayden, braxton, brecken, brennon, brett, briley, brinley, brock, bruno, bronx, brooks, bryce, bryson

C

caelan, caesar, cade, cador, cage, cain, caleb, callaway, callen, callister, callum, calvin, camden, campbell, carlisle, carlo, carrick, carter, casey, casper, castiel, cedric, cesar, channing, charles, chase, chuck, clifton, clinton, cleon, coen, coleman, colton, crew, cristiano, cooper, corbin, corey, cortez, cravin

D

dale, dallas, dalton, damari, damian, damon, dane, dante, dario, darius, davon, dax, dean, declan, dedrick, delius, demarcus, demetrius, dennis, denzel, deon, derek, devon, dexter, dillon, dimitri, dion, dolan, dominic, drake, drew, drystan, duke, dwayne, dwight, dyson

E

eaton, echo, edan, eddison, eden, edrick, eli, eliam, elias, elijah, elio, eliseo, ellis, emilio, emerson, emmett, enoch, enzo, ernest, eros, essex, evan, evian, ezra

F

fabian, falcon, fallon, farley, felix, fenton, finley, finnick, floyd, flynn, fonso, ford, forester, francisco, franco, freddy, frederick, frodi

G

gabe, gabriel, gaius, gabin, galvin, gareth, garrick, gaston, gaveel, georgie, gemini, giorgio, glade, gonzalo, gray, gregory, greyson, griffin, grover, gunner, guy

H

haim, hadden, hadley, hale, hammond, hanan, hanson, harden, harley, harris, hayes, helio, helix, hendrix, hermes, hiram, holden, holland, holmes, houstan, howard, hudson, hugh, hugo, hunter, hyde

I

iago, ian, icarius, idris, iker, ilario, indigo, isaak, isaiah, israel, ithiel, ives

J

jace, jadon, jago, jahziel, jairo, jakez, jakobe, jamari, janos, jaron, jasper, javier, jaxon, jayden, jaylon, jaziel, jenson, jeremiah, jermaine, jersey, jett, joaquin, jonas, jose, joss, jovani, joziah, judas, jude, julian, julius, junior, justice

K

kace, kaden, kael, kairo, kahlil, kai, kaleb, kamden, kanan, karson, kashton, kasper, keenan, keiran, kennedy, keon, kenton, kenzo, keyon, kez, kiah, killian, kingsley, kito, klaus, kobe, koby, kodah, kohen, kolton, kristian, knox, kyan, kynan, kyson

L

lamar, lamont, lance, landon, laney, larkin, lawyer, lazarus, leandro, lee, legend, lennox, leno, leon, levi, lex, liko, link, locke, loki, loman, lonzo, lorenzo, luca, lucian, lukas, lyam, lynx

M

mac, machi, macklin, maddox, magnus, maison, major, makeo, malaki, manning, mano, marion, marlon, mars, martez, mathias, maxton, mekhi, meyer, micah, milian, miller, milo, montey, montez, myles

N

nakos, nasir, nathaniel, neel, neriah, nero, nevada, nicolo, nicklaus, nickolai, nico, nike, nikos, nixon, noah, nolan, norton, nye

O

oakley, oberyn, obi, obsidian, octavian, oison, olimpio, olsen, omar, ontario, onyx, orion, orlando, oskar, oslo, oryn, otis, oxford, oxley

P

pablo, paley, palmer, parker, parson, pauly, paxton, pearce, perkin, phelix, phoenix, pierre, pike, podrick, porter, preston, prince, puck

Q

qamar, quinten, quillon, quince

R

racer, radley, rafael, rafer, ralph, rambo, ramiel, ramone, randall, raven, rayan, reed, reese, rhydian, ricardo, ridley, riker, riley, river, robin, rocco, roderick, roland, roman, romeo, ronan, roni, rowan, royden, rufus, ryder, ryland

S

sadler, safari, salem, salix, salvador, sami, santiago, sawyer, sean, seaton, severo, shayne, shiloh, silas, silvano, simba, skander, skyler, slade, spencer, spiro, stanley, stefan, syrus

T

talmon, tane, tanner, tate, tatum, tavis, teddy, terence, theo, theon, tirion, titus, tobias, tommen, tonio, travis, trey, troye, trystan, turner, tyrell, tyrese, tyson

U

ulan, uri, uriel, urien

V

vadim, vale, vance, valentine, vaughn, venturo, venus, vermont, vero, victor, vidor, vince, volante, voss

W

wade, walker, walter, warner, warren, watson, waylan, wayne, wilder, wilson, wilton, wolfgang, wyatt, wynton

X

xander, xavier, xenos, xylon

Y

yates, york, yuri, yusef

Z

zacharias, zade, zavier, zayn, zed, zeke, zero, zeus, zion

[junker-town]

Meet the NBA drafts prospects worth tracking

The 2020 NBA Draft should feature James Wiseman, Nico Mannion, and Cole Anthony as lottery picks.

These are the 2020 NBA Draft prospects to watch in college basketball.

So many of the top prospects in the 2020 NBA Draft are playing in leagues outside of the United States and far away from the NCAA. LaMelo Ball and R.J. Hampton are American teenagers who have taken their games to Australia and look the part of top-10 draft picks so far. French guards Killian Hayes and Theo Maledon are building similar reputations while playing in Europe. Israeli forward Deni Avdija is drawing top-five hype as a gifted passer and open-floor ball handler while playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The result of so much talent abroad has been a college basketball season that feels a little lackluster, at least at the start of it. Unlike a year ago when Zion Williamson reigned supreme, there remains no obvious No. 1 prospect. There also aren’t any freshmen super teams just yet (though Arizona and Memphis could get there), which means the talent is more spread out around the country.

While we wait for storylines to emerge and the prospect hierarchy to take shape, here are eight college basketball players NBA fans should keep an eye on as the season progresses. Also be sure to check out our first 2020 NBA mock draft, which was published in June the day after the 2019 draft.

Prospects rising into the lottery

8. Isaiah Joe, SG, Arkansas

Getty Images

Joe wasn’t considered a top-100 recruit when he entered Arkansas, but a strong freshman season and a useful skill set has put him on NBA radars at the beginning of his sophomore year. The lone non-freshman on this list, Joe makes the cut thanks to his beautiful shooting stroke. The 6’4 guard can hit threes with deep range and off movement, projecting an easy NBA fit for a team that wants a knockdown threat in the backcourt. He has taken nearly 10 three-point shots per game at the start of his sophomore season, and has knocked them down at a 41 percent clip.

Can Joe get to the rim? Right now, 65 percent of his field-goal attempts are threes. He hasn’t shown a consistent ability to get to the foul line, and was a pretty rudimentary passer last season. His defense will also be under the microscope as this season progresses.

7. Onyeka Okongwu, C, USC

Okongwu has perhaps been the biggest early season revelation for NBA scouts so far. The USC center is long and strong at 6’9, 245 pounds, with a quick second jump, impressive agility, and refined rim protecting instincts. He’s scored at least 20 points and/or grabbed double-digit rebounds in three of his first five games with the Trojans. Watch the highlights of his 33-point performance vs. Pepperdine here:

Okongwu has an obvious fit in the NBA as a bouncy dive man who dunks everything on offense and can block shots and rebound on defense. This isn’t the type of unicorn center NBA teams love right now, but he knows how to play and has a functional skill set.

Top-10 picks with high school hype

6. James Wiseman, C, Memphis

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Wiseman’s eligibility status at Memphis has become one of the biggest stories in sports (find out all the details here). We now know Wiseman will be suspended for 12 games and return Jan. 12. NBA scouts will be thrilled to get more tape on Wiseman because he feels like one of the more polarizing prospects in this class.

The No. 1 overall recruit has been hyped as the potential top pick in the draft, and it’s easy to see why some think that. He has broad shoulders, long arms, developing strength and finishing ability. He’s a good shot blocker and dependable rebounder. His face-up game is showing early signs of life. For most of NBA history, teams dreamed about finding 7-footers with this kind of physical profile.

The issue for Wiseman is one of both skill and feel so far. He doesn’t appear to have super quick reaction time defensively on his backline rotations. He’s found himself in trouble biting on pump fakes. His offensive game isn’t particularly developed yet, and he goes too many possessions without making a real impact. Wiseman remains a good prospect, but with centers in his mold becoming more deemphasized in the modern NBA, it feels like he’s better suited to be a mid-tier lottery pick than go No. 1. We had Wiseman at No. 9 overall in our first mock draft and that still feels about right.

5. Nico Mannion, PG, Arizona

Jacob Snow-USA TODAY Sports

Mannion, the 6’3, red-headed point guard on Arizona, is going to be plastered all over ESPN this season. He’s already proven his scoring chops during his short time with the Wildcats, popping off for 23 points and nine assists against a quality Illinois team in his second game. The appeal with Mannion is all about his offense: he’s a skilled pull-up shooter, a crafty finisher near the rim (currently hitting 58 percent of his two-point attempts), and a polished floor general who knows how to run an offense and find teammates. His offensive skill set feels particularly tailored for the spread pick-and-roll era of the modern NBA.

The questions with Mannion will focus on his size and defensive impact. At 6’3, 190 pounds, Mannion will likely struggle to get to and finish at the rim. His early defense has been encouraging in that it isn’t a total train wreck, but his length and strength limitations do hold him back as a switch defender and against more powerful point guards. As long as Mannion continues to look like one of the most skilled offensive prospects in the class, his status as a top-10 pick should be safe.

2-way players with upside

4. Isaac Okoro, F, Auburn

John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Bruce Pearl has already called Okoro the best defensive player he’s ever coached just a week into his college career. Don’t want to take his word for it? Take it from senior teammate Anfernee McLemore.

“He can guard anybody on the floor. He’s definitely going to be able to be a problem in the SEC,” McLemore said of Okoro before the start of the season. “He can guard centers. He can guard point guards. … He’s just an exceptional athlete. He’s one of those guys that can really play basketball.”

This is the type of hype typically reserved for the highest achieving McDonald’s All-Americans, not a dude who was ranked No. 36 overall in his class entering college. But while mainstream analysts slept on Okoro’s game, internet scouts like Mike Gribanov saw his high school tape and knew he was a high lottery pick. Through his first few games at Auburn, Okoro has been as impressive as his biggest fans could have hoped.

The 6’6, 225-pound wing will always be a defense-first prospect, but his offense is already showing signs of life. He’s hitting nearly 72 percent of his two-point attempts (on eight attempts per game) and has looked good slashing to the basket. His three-point shot is his biggest area of improvement and the shaky free-throw stroke he’s shown off thus far is more evidence that he has a ways to go as a shooter.

This remains far from a consensus ranking for Okoro, but the praise from his teammates and coaches and the early tape sure looks promising. It isn’t hard to think of the defense-first prospects to hit the draft in recent years whose offensive game has blossomed in the league. That will be the hope for whatever team takes Okoro.

3. Tyrese Maxey, G, Kentucky

Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Maxey started the season on the bench for Kentucky but established himself as the best player on the team from the first game. He scored 26 points to fuel an upset over No. 1 Michigan State in the Champions Classic and announce himself as a serious lottery prospect. While there’s nothing overwhelming about his tools, he is a smart guard who plays with contagious energy and never takes a possession off at either end.

Think of Maxey as a defensive-minded guard with scoring ability. He earned Defensive Player of the Year honors as a rising senior on Nike’s EYBL circuit and has already showed quick hands and quicker reaction time during the start of his tenure with Kentucky. Offensively, Maxey uses great straight-line speed to force transition opportunities out of thin air. He’s already skilled with his floater and is gaining more confidence in his jumper after hitting three three-pointers vs. the Spartans.

Maxey feels like a safe bet to be a good NBA player, but it is fair to wonder if his theoretical upside is high enough for a spot this lofty. Is he long enough to also defend shooting guards? Will his jumper fully come around? Does he have the facilitating chops to be a full-time point guard? The last one he won’t have an opportunity to prove at the college level playing next to sophomore floor general Ashton Hagans.

Maxey is currently projected at No. 14 overall in ESPN’s mock draft, but internet scouts like Ross Homan have been preaching about his talent for a while. It’s starting to feel like Maxey has a chance to have star-level impact one day in the league, but even if he doesn’t, he should be a dependable player for a long time.

The contenders for the top pick

2. Cole Anthony, PG, North Carolina

Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports

Anthony is going to put up superhuman production all season at North Carolina. He dropped 36 points on Notre Dame in his college debut, a warning sign for future opponents that he’s the baddest freshman in the country. He already has a rare level of ownership over games, whether he’s thriving or struggling.

It is so easy for Anthony to create offense. He can burn defenders off the dribble with a quick first step, and has an advanced ability to operate in the pick-and-roll. He’s a threat going to the basket with tremendous vertical leaping ability and the touch to finish at the rim. He’s a threat to pull-up off the dribble as well with deep range and unfettered confidence in himself.

It’s fitting that Anthony followed up his star-studded debut by scoring only 20 points on 24 shots in his next game against UNC-Wilmington. This is the other side of Anthony’s game, with his unrelenting scoring mindset occasionally tricking him to try to take on the world by himself. Anthony is the type of point guard that’s going to shoot a lot. It’s going to be mesmerizing when it’s working but can be cringeworthy when it isn’t.

It’s worth noting Anthony is older than Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett from last year’s draft and a year older than many fellow freshmen in this class. Even still, he’s the safest bet in this draft to one day put up all-star caliber numbers in the NBA. He never stops attacking, for better or worse.

1. Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Edwards is going to be a long-term play for whoever takes him at or near the top of the draft. Nearly 15 months younger than Cole Anthony, Edwards was originally slated to graduate high school in 2020 and is going to be one of the youngest players available on draft night. While he doesn’t have the current polish of the UNC point guard, we’re giving him the slightest edge early in the season because of how tantalizing his talent can be once it’s fully realized.

Edwards is a 6’5, 225 pound ball of quick-twitch muscles. He’s a powerful downhill attacker who has a one-track mind to put pressure on the rim. He’s already strong enough to absorb and finish through contact in the paint but also has the body control for crafty finishes. He’s making a living at the foul line through his first four games at Georgia, and that shouldn’t change. He ultimately projects as the type of player who commands help defenders whenever he drives.

Edwards is still rough around the edges in both his shooting and decision-making. He needs to become a more consistent shooter on spot-ups to be a threat off the ball. He needs to continue to learn how to read the floor as he drives so he can best leverage his scoring ability to benefit his teammates. He’s racked up tons of steals defensively in his short time with the Bulldogs on sheer physicality. There will be learning curve on that end, as well.

Edwards is still growing into his game and his body, but the early signs are as intriguing as any player in this class. Playing for Tom Crean, the comparisons to Victor Oladipo and maybe even Dwyane Wade will be inevitable, but they hardly contextualize what Edwards currently is. He has so much to build on and plenty of time to do it.

[actutrends]

The Step Back 2020 NBA Draft Big Board: Updates, now that we actually know things

Anthony Edwards and Cole Anthony have separated themselves as the top players in the 2020 NBA Draft, plus other thoughts after the first month of college basketball.

The 2020 NBA Draft picture is starting to take shape. Six weeks into the NBA season, we know who a few of the teams who will be picking at the top of the draft are. The Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, New Orleans Pelicans, Atlanta Hawks, and somehow, the Golden State Warriors, are our likely top five in lottery odds. Meanwhile, we’re a month into the college basketball season, which has helped us sort out who the players are that will be headed to those destinations.

The first month of the season is typically an enlightening one. Despite our best efforts, projecting a preseason ranking is often a futile exercise, as high school situations and the outrageous athleticism gap between elite prospects and their peers make figuring out which freshmen will hit tough, and it’s hard to predict who among the returners will surprise us with an unexpected development.

With a month of college data (and two months for international players), things start to come together, although it’s still far too early to make any legitimate claims about the strength of the class. Every year around this time, proclamations of how bad the year’s draft crop looks start to come up, only to go away once April comes around and we can properly put the class in context. Nevermind that this is almost always because at this point we’ve started to discard the players we thought would be good but have disappointed, but hesitate to truly promote the players we didn’t see coming. That creates a gaping hole in the second and third tiers of the board, hence the hand-wringing about class depth. Remember that at this point last year Bol Bol and Cam Reddish were popular top-five pick candidates still, and Jarrett Culver and Coby White were ranked in the 20s on most boards.

This year, the pattern re-emerges. Things look like they take a pretty steep drop-off after Anthony Edwards, but that may just be because preseason favorites like Deni Avdija have disappointed. It’s also probably too early to be too bullish on guys like Onyeka Okongwu and Aaron Nesmith, who both look on their way to the top 10 early on despite not really being on the radar for those spots heading into the year. As with every year, things will make a lot more sense in January.

The one theme we can expect, however, is that last year’s dichotomy between evaluations of players with demonstrable NBA traits and players with perceived potential is a continued confounding factor. Jackson Frank and I continue to lean on the side of the former compared to the latter, given how many times the former has actually led to real NBA success. That’s why you will see names that might be outside the mainstream (like Kira Lewis and Oscar Tshiebwe) in the lottery on our board, while names like James Wiseman and Jaden McDaniels sit much lower than their likely eventual draft spots.

Tier 1

Anthony Edwards

SG, Georgia

Edwards’ scoring profile and athleticism match up very well to a player who can be a top option at the NBA level. He’s very advanced as a pull-up shooter and rim-driver for his age. For more on Edwards, click here.

Tier 2

Cole Anthony

PG, UNC

Anthony’s high school and AAU shooting indicators suggest he has the potential to be an elite pull-up shooter. While he struggled in nine games prior to being sidelined with a right knee injury (.368/.355/.679 split), he still flashed an array of live dribble shooting, with the step-backs and pull-ups, evidenced by the fact he ranks in the 82nd percentile in half-court, off-the-dribble shooting. He’ll need to improve his tunnel vision and burst as a driver but Anthony’s shooting and team defense have popped this season. For more on Anthony, click here.

LaMelo Ball

SG, Illiwarra Hawks

Ball will miss a month with a foot injury, and hasn’t shot or finished well. But his creativity with the ball and size are too promising to ignore if the shot comes around. For more on Ball’s injury, click here.

Tyrese Maxey

SG, Kentucky

Maxey is another heralded freshman guard whose shooting numbers have underwhelmed thus far (.400/.245/.833 split). But the on-ball defense, quickness and strength continue to be clear pluses. Maxey’s touch — emphasized on floaters and free throws — is far too good for him to struggle all year beyond the arc, though the issue seems to stem from inconsistent arc and lower body involvement, often leaving his attempts short . Most encouraging has been his .417 free-throw rate, as he’s displaying increased downhill aggression compared to his pre-collegiate sample. Maxey’s shooting should positively regress soon and he remains a top-five prospect on our board because of it.

Isaac Okoro

SF, Auburn

Perhaps the smartest defender in the draft class, Okoro has latent offensive upside to pair with incredible 1-through-5 versatility and strength on defense. For more on Okoro, click here.

Nico Mannion

PG, Arizona

After a red-hot start to the season, Mannion has cooled off in recent weeks. Nonetheless, he projects as a highly valuable pull-up shooter because of a quick gather phase and succinct mechanics while his passing repertoire and creativity are among the best in this class. Mannion’s lack of burst (seven half-court rim attempts this year) is an issue as it pertains to his viability as a lead guard and it also hurts his on-ball defense. Yet he’s displayed high-level off-ball awareness defensively (1.2 steals per game) and regularly cuts off drives with his anticipatory skills. There’s a clear avenue to Mannion being a very good NBA player, even if his athletic profile is concerning. For more on Mannion, click here.

Deni Avdija

SF, Maccabi Tel Aviv

Has struggled in Euroleague play so far, but his youth track record and defensive instincts mean he should be a fairly good NBA defensive wing. For more on Avdija, click here.

Killian Hayes

PG, ratiopharm Ulm

Hayes has a ton of things going for him as a prospect. He produces at every level, doesn’t turn 19 until next July and has made tangible athletic gains over the past year. He’s arguably the smartest and best passer in the class — using manipulation and IQ to torch defenders — has incredible touch, which is encouraging from an outside shooting perspective, and regularly is in the right spots as an off-ball defender. His poor burst and mediocre handle are troubling — the former on both ends, the latter offensively — but Hayes boasts some primary initiator equity. In this class, that’s hugely valuable. For more on Hayes, click here.

Tier 3

R.J. Hampton

PG, New Zealand Breakers

Prior to injury, Hampton was having a great month for New Zealand, showcasing the body control and decision-making that could make him an NBA initiator. For more on Hampton’s injury, click here.

Onyeka Okongwu

C, USC

There have been few players as dominant as Okongwu this year. His quick leaping and length make him a forceful rim protector while his lower body strength and coordination are important traits as a roll man. His ambidextrous finishing touch allow him to be a go-to interior scorer as well. He’ll have to improve his tunnel vision and upper body strength but Okongwu has been nothing short of stellar this year and is a very good prospect.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

PF, Villanova

One of our favorite players in this class, Robinson-Earl is a cerebral player with rare fluidity for a big. He’s a heady playmaker in the front-court, has face-up scoring potential and shoots a smooth ball (84.8 percent from the free throw line), so it’s easy to expect him to develop from deep in time. He struggles against length inside and that curbs some of his interior scoring but he’s a smart team defender and overall basketball player. Given the right opportunity, he could be a major plus on both ends. That’s quite the find in this class.

Kira Lewis

PG, Alabama

Despite small stature, Lewis offers solid point of attack defense and decent driving ability. One of the class’s biggest risers so far.

Oscar Tshiebwe

C, West Virginia

While Okongwu is the classic rim protector build, Tshiebwe combines incredible strength and agility to be a more modern switch defender prospect.

Romeo Weems

PF, DePaul

Weems is a great off-ball defender with quick hands, strength and awareness. He flashes instinctive playmaking as well and has a projectable jumper. He’s not a flashy pick but there’s enough to like with his game that make him a top-20 guy.

Theo Maledon

PG, ASVEL

Maledon’s undersized, but his footwork and touch around the basket should still make him a strong creation prospect.

Aaron Henry

SF, Michigan State

Another one of the wings in this class whose cut from a near-identical cloth to Weems. Henry is a 3-and-D forward with some facilitating chops and needs the outside shot to truly deliver value in the NBA. But he’s light on his feet, can finish inside with either hand and is probably a bit more developed as a slasher than Weems. For more on Henry, click here..

Aaron Nesmith

PF, Vanderbilt

Few returning players developed more than Nesmith, whose off-movement shooting and footwork on face-ups should make him a solid offensive four.

Wendell Moore

SG, Duke

At 6-foot-6, 215 pounds, Moore owns good size and strength for a wing, which enables his downhill driving. He’s improved his handle since high school and is a sharp off-ball defender. The outside jumper and passing consistency are question marks but there’s the makings of a valuable wing if those two pan out.

Tier 4

Xavier Tillman

C, Michigan State

Tillman’s agility at the five makes him both a solid space defender and pick-and-roll finisher. He’s not flashy, but he’s a pretty ideal third big man prospect.

Anton Watson

PF, Gonzaga

Shoulder and ankle injuries over the past five weeks have derailed the positive momentum Watson was building early in non-conference player. But he remains a sharp playmaker at the forward position with rare defensive versatility and fluidity, powered by quick hands (3.0 steals per 40 minutes). He’s also flashed some face-up scoring and has the athletic package to be a good slasher.

Paul Reed

PF, DePaul

A tangle of limbs with an outside jumper, Reed is one of the most interesting athletes in the class, as long as he harnesses that athleticism in a more functional way.

Tyrese Haliburton

PG, Iowa State

Haliburton is among the leaders for National Player of the Year to this point. He’s arguably the best pure passer in this class, capable of making passes from a variety of angles, has maintained elite scoring efficiency in a new on-ball role (62.9 percent true shooting) and is a great defensive playmaker (3.7 percent steal rate, 1.6 percent block rate). The issue is much of his offensive upside is shakily translatable to the NBA. Haliburton lacks much explosiveness or strength as a driver and his awkward shooting mechanics leave us doubtful he’s a much of a pull-up shooter at the next level. But despite these issues, he’s a darn good basketball player in a class that lacks them. Tough to drop him much lower than this spot.

Patrick Williams

PF, Florida State

An upside play thanks to defense that looks ready to contribute at an NBA level, and offensive upside as a shooter.

Josh Green

SG, Arizona

The third brother in the Weems and Henry family, Green has impressed with his strong frame, instincts and lateral mobility defensively. He struggles to score in the half-court but has hinted at some on-the-move passing when attacking from the wing. Pair that with his display of the requisite touch on floaters (69th percentile) and from the line (79.6 percent) to inspire hope as a shooter, and you’re left with a good, 3-and-D forward.

Xavier Johnson

PG, Pittsburgh

6-7 point guards who can shoot a little do well, but he needs to improve finishing to be truly a starter-level prospect.

Devin Vassell

PF, Florida State

A darling among certain crowds, Vassell is a fantastic team defender (3.5 percent steal rate, 5.5 percent block rate) whose debuted some off-the-dribble shot making. He lacks the handle and strength to be much of an NBA on-ball creator and the career 67.2 percent mark at the line are concerning for his jumper but there are clear outlines of a 3-and-D wing who constantly wreaks defensive chaos.

Matthew Hurt

PF, Duke

Hurt hasn’t met preseason expectations, but he still looks like a solid shooting prospect at the four. For more on Hurt, click here.

Killian Tillie

PF, Gonzaga

A string of injuries have mellowed Tillie’s NBA allure but he remains a great playmaking big man who’s a career 44.9 percent 3-point shooter with feathery touch. Tillie moves also moves well on the perimeter for his size and can function as a pick-and-pop or off-movement shooter. Underwhelming strength and length, along with the injuries, are all reasons for pause but he’s a very good player and worth the gamble at this stage.

Kaleb Wesson

C, Ohio State

In addition to being built like a mountain, Wesson can spot up from three and legitimately defend across the board in space.

Tre Jones

PG, Duke

A legitimately pestering point-of-attack defender with quick hands, ability to wiggle over screens and make punctual rotations. Some of his defensive value is mitigated entering a league where offensive initiators continue to be bigger guards or wings. Jones also has questions about his jumper and if he’s not much of a scorer, his passing acumen is muted as well. But his jumper isn’t broken and the playmaking still has value while the defense is special for a guard. For more on Jones, click here.

Precious Achiuwa

SF, Memphis

Achiuwa’s offensive impact is minimal, but he could legitimately play the five at a small forward size, giving him intriguing versatility.

Myles Powell

PG, Seton Hall

Powell is a dynamite pull-up shooter who can hit off-movement jumpers and has great balance and deceleration skills. His passing is inconsistent while the defense can often be brutal at times but he has the potential to be a legitimate off-ball dynamo and works well to create looks for himself off the ball.

Mamadi Diakite

C, Virginia

Diakite’s face-up game is enticing, even if he’s not a true fit as a defensive five.

Isaiah Livers

SF/PF, Michigan

A big wing who can shoot (42.9 percent from deep in his career), Livers also uses his frame well to create looks coming around curls and has improved to some degree as an on-ball creator this season. He is not a flashy pick but the shooting and size are a valuable combo at this stage of the draft.

Neemias Queta

C, Utah State

A raw big that can pass and has decent instincts, Queta is a long-term prospect that could be a starter-level center eventually.

Cassius Winston

PG, Michigan State

Winston is undersized, but strong enough and a good enough shooter to let his playmaking drive his way into the league.

Tier 5

James Wiseman

C, Memphis

The top-ranked recruit of 2019, Wiseman has great size (7-foot-1) and length (7-foot-6 wingspan), which makes him a valuable roll threat in ball-screen actions. Defensively, those same tools help him as a rim protector but poor discipline and a slow load-up time leave us skeptical of his upside on that end. Pair that with poor touch, passing feel and decision-making, and you’re left with a big man whose best attributes are physical rather than skill-based. For more on Wiseman, click here.

Jaden McDaniels

PF, Washington

It’s hard to see how McDaniels’ skinny frame lets him get to the rim in the NBA, and without that, can the rest of his impressive skill set work?

Isaiah Joe

SG, Arkansas

Joe has disappointed somewhat this season and his 3-point shooting has regressed from 41.4 percent last year to 34.8 percent now. His true mark likely falls somewhere in the middle but he’s only a 77.0 percent free throw shooter, so it’s tough to project him as elite from deep. He can’t score much inside the arc either (42.1 percent on 2s in 1.5 seasons). But he’s a smart team defender who occasionally flashes impressive passing reads, meaning there’s a chance he outperforms his draft slot with improvements as a 2-point scorer, largely reliant on bulking up his 170-pound frame.

Amar Sylla

SF, Oostende

Sylla is very much a hypothetical player but he flashes defensive mobility, passing talent and offensive fluidity to a degree most 6-foot-9 bigs with a 7-foot-2 wingspan cannot. But there’s not much in the realm of consistent skill or understanding of the game, leaving him as a bit of a dart throw rooted in his physical package.

Isaiah Stewart

C, Washington

Stewart has shown very good post touch and rebounding skill, but he might be too stiff to survive on defense at the next level.

Jahmi’us Ramsey

SG, Texas Tech

Ramsey is a bursty, bouncy athlete who is off to a roaring start beyond the arc (42.9 percent). He flashes some passing feel but doesn’t bring a whole lot else offensively and is a mess off the ball defensively. Furthermore, he’s only shooting 63.6 percent at the line and has a bit of a stiff, two-motion shot, which leaves us skeptical he’s going to be a dynamic live dribble shooter. Even so, the burst, bounce and potential jumper are enough for some worthwhile intrigue.

Jon Teske

C, Michigan

An underrated athlete, Teske won’t wow you, but he always makes the correct decision on defense and shows some interesting shooting upside.

Tyler Bey

SF, Colorado

An advanced stats darling, Bey has established himself as a quality shooter and has some weakside rim protection potential.

Trevelin Queen

PG, New Mexico State

Queen has NBA size as a 6-6 point guard, and he shows good scoring potential out of the pick-and-roll.

D.J. Carton

PG, Ohio State

Carton is one of the main reasons Ohio State has emerged as one of the best teams in the nation this year. He’s a shifty athlete with silky ball-handling and space creation skills. He can fling skip passes and ignite transition scoring opportunities. Carton’s athleticism fuels his dribble-drive game while his instincts and active hands make him a plus defender, both on and off the ball. A low release point on the jumper and middling free throw efficiency (72.2 percent) make it tough to be fully confident in his outside shot but there’s a lot to like for a freshman.

Saddiq Bey

SG, Villanova

A powerful shooting guard with good three-point stroke that wins with excellent footwork in the post. One of this year’s weirder skill sets.

Isaiah Mobley

C, USC

Mobley is a skilled passing big with rim protecting instincts who lacks the functional strength necessary for a big and isn’t quite fluid enough to play on the wing regularly. Athletic advancements are the key to him developing into a first-round prospect.

Obi Toppin

PF, Dayton

Toppin plays like a stronger Kyle Kuzma, and that is probably his NBA role, as well.

Scottie Lewis

SG, Florida

One of the best on-ball wing defenders in this class, Lewis is an electric lateral athlete capable of shutting down drives. His springy athleticism propel him into help defense situations at the rim, too. But he’s incredibly weak for a big and a maddeningly poor offensive decision-maker. Even so, the defense — along with potential slashing upside offensively — give him value.

Quentin Grimes

SG, Houston

Grimes looks reborn in Houston, mostly because he looks stronger and better equipped to use his court vision.

Keyontae Johnson

SG, Florida

Johnson is a very smart and aware team defender who moves his feet well on the perimeter. Offensively, his quick jumping ability, strong frame and straight-line driving project him as a valuable slasher and play finisher. If he can force defenders to close out on his jumper, the slashing potential expands, too.

Devon Dotson

PG, Kansas

Dotson’s quickness and decision-making defensively are good skills, but at 6-2, it’s somewhat challenging to see him finding a role in the NBA while not being a good shooter.

Joel Ayayi

SG, Gonzaga

Finally emerging in his third year with Gonzaga, Ayayi has flashed deep pull-up range, looks improved as a pick-and-roll passer with each game and is a silky finisher at the rim. He’ll have to make strides as a shooter in traffic, off-ball defender and add functional strength but the fact he doesn’t turn 20 until March is encouraging for his development, especially given how far he’s come since November.

Rayshaun Hammonds

PF, Georgia

Hammonds has good scoring skill, but needs to fill out the rest of his game to be a good NBA option.

Joe Weiskamp

SG, Iowa

Wieskamp’s allure rests in his shooting (42.1 percent from deep for his career) and is augmented by heady off-bal relocation instincts, team defense and a modicum of passing flair. But he lacks the functional handle and burst to do much of anything on the ball, which significantly limits his upside. Regardless, the shooting and general basketball IQ make him worthy of a top-60 slot.

Tyrell Terry

PG, Stanford

Terry is another small point guard, but shows some interesting pick-and-roll scoring ability and pull-up mechanics. He’s probably a long-term draft prospect.

Markell Johnson

PG, North Carolina State

A bouncy, lively shooter (37.1 percent from 3 for his career). Johnson adds some passing talent as well and has the verve to create for himself in a pinch. His poor decision-making and inconsistent defensive motor — along with a career 65.5 percent mark at the charity stripe — are problematic, though.

Yves Pons

C, Tennessee

The French strongman has turned into quite the pick-and-pop threat for the Vols, and is an interesting long-term prospect as a small-ball five.

Ayo Dosunmu

PG, Illinois

Dosunmu’s scoring ability is great, but does he do enough else to matter?

The post The Step Back 2020 NBA Draft Big Board: Updates, now that we actually know things appeared first on Actu Trends.

[junker-town]

The 16 X-factors of the Sweet 16

A casual fan’s guide for who to watch in the Sweet 16

With the field of 68 fizzled down to just 16 teams, we can finally start to analyze who’s left, how they got here, and how they’ll keep advancing. The 16-game days of March Madness are over and now, with more breathing room in between tip-offs, we can finally see how freakin wild the opening rounds of the 2018 NCAA tournament were.

Had this story been written a week ago today, I would’ve felt safe prepping words on Miles Bridges’ need to assert his way through the paint to get Michigan State to the Elite Eight. I would have written about Kyle Guy’s task as the go-to scorer in Virginia’s offense, Trevon Bluiett’s need to take the reigns for Xavier and about Joel Berry and Theo Pinson shooting the lights out for UNC.

Somehow, all of those players are gone now, as are most of the familiar faces from this college basketball season. Trae Young, Mo Bamba, DeAndre Ayton and Michael Porter Jr all left in the first round, and Jaren Jackson and Collin Sexton joined them after the second.

The spotlight is there for the taking for this year’s overlooked talent.

In alphabetical order by team, here are the players to watch for on each of the remaining Sweet 16 teams, and how they can help their teams advance to the Elite Eight.

Gabe Devoe, Clemson

Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Sweet 16 opponent: Kansas

Position: Guard

Year: Senior

Clemson wins if: Devoe can out-duel Kansas’ Devonte Graham. Both the Jayhawks and Tigers have deep backcourts, so Clemson needs its 40 percent three-point shooter to be on-the-money to beat a superior opponent. Devoe has scored 22 points in each tournament game so far, and made 8-of-14 shots from deep in total.

Marvin Bagley III, Duke

Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

Sweet 16 opponent: Syracuse

Position: Forward/Center

Year: Freshman

Duke wins if: Bagley can fight his way through ‘Cuse’s zone defense — especially past 7’2 center Paschal Chukwu — and dominate the paint like he has all season. Bagley will be an NBA lottery pick in this summer’s draft, and needs to prove he’s the best player on the court and finish over Cuse’s length, and power through their traps. It won’t be an easy task.

Phil Cofer, Florida State

Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Sweet 16 opponent: Gonzaga

Position: Forward

Year: Senior

FSU wins if: Cofer can shoot over the length of the Bulldogs’ bigs. On four attempts this year, the 6’8 son of a former Pro-Bowl NFL linebacker is shooting 39 percent from deep. He only made one of his five attempts from three (10 points) in a close win over Xavier, and the Noles will need more from him against to upset the Zags.

Johnathan Williams, Gonzaga

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Sweet 16 opponent: Florida State

Position: Forward

Year: Senior

Gonzaga wins if: Williams dominates the boards and scores like he has been. Williams made a name for himself in last year’s Final Four run, and now, with Zach Collins and others gone, he’s assumed a lead role. He leads the team in scoring at 14 per game, and also has help from Rui Hachimura, Zach Norvell Jr. and Killian Tillie. The Zags are deep with Williams leading the way.

Devonte’ Graham, Kansas

Sweet 16 opponent: Clemson

Position: Guard

Year: Senior

Gonzaga wins if: Graham shoots the lights out. The senior is having a spectacular final season, and was already awarded the Big 12 Player of the Year Award. He fires at 40 percent from deep, and if he can make plays off the dribble, it’s over for Clemson.

Barry Brown Jr. , Kansas State

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Sweet 16 opponent: Kentucky

Position: Guard

Year: Junior

KSU wins if: Brown can exploit Kentucky’s guard deficiencies and force turnovers. Brown averages two steals per night, and has one of the best steal rates in the nation. If Kentucky’s freshmen get sloppy, K-State can steal another one.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kentucky

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Sweet 16 opponent: Syracuse

Position: Guard

Year: Freshman

Kentucky wins if: Gilgeous-Alexander can outlast KSU’S pesky defense, and continue to be Kentucky’s leading scorer. SGA has put himself into the NBA Draft lottery conversation averaging 23 points, seven rebounds and 6.5 assists in two tourney games. He’ll face the toughest defense he’s seen on Thursday.

Clayton Custer, Loyola Chicago

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Sweet 16 opponent: Nevada

Position: Guard

Year: Junior

Loyola Chicago wins if: Custer maintains his 46 percent three-point shooting, and maybe hits another game-winner. Both Loyola Chicago and Nevada have made it further in the tournament than even they could’ve hoped for, and this will be a grind. Custer needs to step up even more than he did in the opening two rounds.

Mo Wagner, Michigan

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Sweet 16 opponent: Texas A&M

Position: Forward/Center

Year: Junior

Michigan wins if: Wagner can assert himself among A&M’s many physical bigs. He’ll need to remain a deep-ball threat to lure the Aggies’ bigs out and open lanes for his teammates, and play physical enough to secure boards down low. This is Wagner’s biggest test to date.

Caleb and Cody Martin, Nevada

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Sweet 16 opponent: Loyola Chicago

Position: Forward

Year: Junior

Nevada wins if: The Martins crash the boards and score in the mid-range like they have in the opening two rounds. The identical twins were downright beastly in the win against Cincy. Cody, the brother who wasn’t the MWC Player of the Year, dropped 25 points and seven assists, and his brother had 10 points and five rebounds. They’ll need to repeat that.

Matt Haarms, Purdue

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Sweet 16 opponent: Texas Tech

Position: Center

Year: Freshman

Purdue wins if: Haarms plays lockdown defense and protects the rim. The 7’2 freshman is only starting because his 7’1 teammate, Isaac Haas, broke his elbow in the opening round. He was brilliant in a second-round win over Butler. Can he do it again?

Paschal Chukwu, Syracuse

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Sweet 16 opponent: Duke

Position: Center

Year: Junior

Syracuse wins if: Chukwu protects the paint from a barrage of supersized bigs in Marvin Bagley III and Wendell Carter. The NBA Draft lottery-bound forwards both can take over a game, but if 7’2 Chukwu’s height and length can throw them out of rhythm, ‘Cuse can steal another win and shock everyone again.

Robert Williams, Texas A&M

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Sweet 16 opponent: Michigan

Position: Forward/Center

Year: Sophomore

A&M wins if: Williams, along with Tyler Davis and D.J. Hogg, clog the lane and force Mo Wagner to shoot tough shots. The Aggies are here because of their defense, and if they’re able to contain the Wolverines’ top scoring threat, they can pull off another upset. Williams is averaging 2.6 blocks per game.

Keenan Evans, Texas Tech

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Sweet 16 opponent: Purdue

Position: Guard

Year: Senior

Tech wins if: Evans attacks the hoop, gets to the free throw line, and forces Matt Haarms into foul trouble. Evans is one of the best in the nation at getting to the stripe, averaging seven attempts per game. He hits them at an 81 percent rate, too. He’ll need to be assertive and help get Purdue’s 7’2 replacement big off the floor for as long as possible.

Jevon Carter, West Virginia

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Sweet 16 opponent: Villanova

Position: Guard

Year: Senior

WVU wins if: Carter can shutdown Jalen Brunson, or at least force him to commit turnovers. Carter has 11 steals in two games — along with 49 points — and is undeniably the engine that makes the Mountaineers move. Can he succeed against the best offense in the country?

Mikal Bridges, Villanova

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Sweet 16 opponent: West Virginia

Position: Forward

Year: Junior

Nova wins if: Bridges can leak out on WVU’s traps, and make them pay by attacking the rim and making open threes. He roasted Alabama when he was given any space, finished 5-of-8 from deep, scoring 23 points on 16 shots. If Nova can break the press, WVU is in trouble.