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mattsvn · 3 years

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CHANCE BALL LOVE!

Pairing: Ushijima Wakatoshi x gn!reader

Genre: Meet ugly! strangers to lovers! Getting hit in the head with a volleyball!

Warnings: Blood, head injury, concussion, did I mention getting hit in the head with a volleyball? Food hehe, that's all.

WC: 2.4K

Summary: After being hit with a volleyball by the ace and U19 athlete, Ushijima Wakatoshi, you find yourself laying in the nurse's office, with a bag of ice on your head and a boy apologizing every two minutes for that terrible accident. As the times goes by, you realize that not only you were hit by a ball, but by destiny, and more important, love.

A/N: I'm so excited for this piece! This is a collab for HQHQ (now Anilysium!) The masterlist is here! I hope you like this piece! Reblogs are appreciated!

Life is made up of 90% causality and 10% coincidence.

That was what your mother used to say, with her hands covered with flour up to her elbows, while she prepared one of those delicious desserts. Possibly as a result of all her years perfecting her technique as a pastry chef, but, as in that, she considered that everything had to be planned, measured, and calculated.

On the other hand, your father was always talking about how fate made everything line up perfectly for things in his life to come in abundance, he would happily tell about the coincidences in his life, although the answer was always the same, a debate between the two of them as to what was the truth.

A skeptical pastry chef and a dreamy lawyer, a match made in heaven.

Whatever it had been, causality or causality, you never thought a hit of luck would be so...literal.

It was unusual for you to be in Shiratorizawa's volleyball gymnasium, if you had managed to get into such a prestigious high school it was because of the impeccable grades you always had, sports were not a priority.

You weren't afraid of balls, but, the way everyone was spiking the ball was about to cause you a headache, especially Ushijima Wakatoshi, the school's ace, one of the best athletes in the country.

"Why are we here, again?" you asked, your gaze wandering between the various players and the sound of balls hitting everywhere making the conversation feel distorted.

"Because they" one pointed out, to the rest of the girls looking around the court excitedly "want to see Semi Eita, the pretty boy with the grey hair" she gestured to the boy in the corner, slamming the ball to the ground unaware that they were watching.

"Ah" you replied, somewhat bored, grabbing your backpack and standing up. "Good luck with that, I have to get home early" you said, waving goodbye to everyone.

To leave, or at least, to do it in a faster way, the door that led out of the building, and through which you had to go through the court, was the best option, as it took longer to take the way inside the corridors. The only option as you made your way down the bleachers.

The only thing you heard, with your eyes glued to the ground, trying to go completely unnoticed was a "WATCH OUT!" that made you look up before you saw nothing but darkness.

"I don't know, Wakatoshi-kun, looks like you did kill her" a voice was heard in the distance, the light irritating your eyes if you tried to open them. Still, only because of your stubbornness, you tried to get up without anyone else's help.

"I don't think it's best if you stand up now" you heard a deeper voice, but you didn't know exactly where it was coming from.

"I'm fine" you whispered, placing a hand on where you assumed you had been hit with the volleyball, feeling a warm liquid staining it. It wasn't possible that a spike had cracked your forehead open, right?

Right?

"I'm fine, I have to go" as you stood up, opening your eyes, everything was spinning. An arm went around your shoulders, stopping you from falling back to the ground, firm, but at the same time gentle.

"You need to go to the infirmary, you're bleeding" the voice now seemed to be closer, a little more stable, but, no way did you feel you could even move without throwing up or passing out again, what the fuck had that hit been? Could someone hit someone that hard just with a serve?

The answer was yes, and the name, Ushijima Wakatoshi.

You barely felt it when, just like that, he lifted you off the ground, although it seemed that your body felt it. A piece of something, probably cloth or gauze stopped the bleeding. You kept repeating that at least they let you walk, that you were okay, even though, clearly, you had the symptoms of a concussion.

"Are you all right, can you tell me where you are?" questioned Ushijima, entering a room. You had finally managed to open your eyes and recover from the dizziness.

"I'm fine, we're at the high school" you whispered, looking at Ushijima for the first time.

Even if you had gone to games before, you had never seen that look on Wakatoshi's face, a mixture of fear and worry, accompanied by his pale face and a barely noticeable bloodstain on his shirt.

"You can wait outside, dear boy," said the nurse, slightly terrified by what had happened.

A couple of hours passed before they managed to let you go, after calling your parents and making sure you didn't leave the building unless you were accompanied. You didn't need stitches, and that was a huge plus, but still, you left the infirmary with a gauze pad on your forehead, some candy, and a chance to take the rest of the week off to rest, which wasn't such a bad outcome.

You closed the door behind you, looking sideways at Wakatoshi on the floor, who got up almost immediately, still looking scared, even his gaze lingered for a few seconds on the patch on your forehead, which reminded him of the fact that he had accidentally hit you with a volleyball while practicing his serves.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, looking disheveled, and as if he had done nothing more than wait in the hallway until everything was in order.

"Oh, don't worry, Ushijima-san, I'm fine" you assured, but it didn't seem to be enough for him.

"I'm so sorry, let me take you home to be sure you arrive safely" he asked, with his hands behind his back and his head slightly bent down, like a child discovered stealing the candy from the counter.

"My parents are here to take me home, don't worry" you assured, glancing sideways at the door, somewhat far away. "You can walk me to the car, if you like."

"Of course" he nodded, walking beside you. Up close he looked even taller than he was, his expression calm and his gaze fixed straight ahead, though, he seemed to have a doubt that would leave his lips at any moment "Would you allow me to walk you to school tomorrow?"

You looked at him with raised eyebrows, somehow, the sound of just both of your footsteps in the hallway was comforting, soothing. It wasn't awkward, or uncomfortable. Ushijma didn't believe in awkward silences, because to him actions said more than words, and, that a question shouldn't be answered right away. So, the way to the entrance was nothing more than waiting for an honest, and safe, answer.

"I got permission to miss classes for the rest of the week, in case the concussion gets complicated, because I have to rest" you began, letting again the calm silence take center stage for a couple of seconds. "Then I won't be back until Monday, but maybe you can come for dinner tomorrow?"

"If you accept that as my apology for hurting you, then by all means" he took the door, allowing you to leave before him, there was still a bit of a walk to the main entrance. "Although, I would like to cook"

"Oh, I didn't know you cooked," you smiled, looking up at him. Ushijima looked down, and, you could swear he was smiling too. "If that's what you prefer, I'd love to."

The rest of the walk was quiet, and calm. Ushijima said goodbye to you after introducing himself to your parents, and apologizing again. In the rearview mirror you saw him standing there, waiting until he didn't see the car to go home.

He was really worried, and it would probably take him a few days to stop being scared about what had just happened. He was even willing to be scolded by the coach for missing two days of practice, just to make sure everything was in order.

Likewise, even if it would be a whole day before you saw Ushijima, he decided to call you just before he went to bed. And at lunchtime, because doing it earlier would surely have woken you up. He didn't talk too much, he let you talk about how annoying the doctors at the hospital had been when you went to check that everything was okay, and all the boring time you spent there.

He called back as soon as he got out of school, to make sure the details of the dinner were ready, he would bring the food, and some dessert, and, you would bring the drinks. You had to convince him though, otherwise he would have bought everything, he would have even brought plates and silverware from his own house.

Wakatoshi took the job of bringing the food seriously, as much as he could buy anything on the way home, he decided to make something himself. The menu was simple, yakisoba, yukari rice balls with an egg on top of each dish. As for dessert, he decided not to risk it, and preferred to buy those box cakes that had been quite popular lately, and, some condensed milk truffles that Tendou gave him as a gift as, he assured, you would love them.

Your parents could be quite reluctant to invite a boy to the house, but, after proposing the idea that you could clean up the picnic table you had in the backyard, where there was a space convenient enough for them to peek in just a little to feel safe, they agreed almost immediately.

During the afternoon, the question you wanted to ignore came out of nowhere, could that be considered a date, and should you dress for the occasion? It didn't seem like anything would match a forehead injury, or that anything would hide it. The result ended up being something you would wear if you were going out with friends, simple, and appropriate for the sunny day out.

Ushijima arrived exactly at the appointed time, and, reluctantly from your parents, you opened the door without them intruding. Looking at him, you failed to understand the nervous feeling that traveled from your heart to the tips of your fingers, making them tremble. Standing with a bag in his left hand, his hair slightly tousled and a bouquet of flowers in the other. Yet another gesture of apology, right?

"Hi, I brought some flowers" he pointed out, extending them. Your hand gently brushing his as you took them, white roses with green accents that made the bouquet look incredibly elegant.

"I already told you that you didn't have to keep apologizing, Ushijima" you mentioned, taking the flowers. "We'll eat outside then you don't need to take off your shoes, but let me go get a vase."

"You look good today" he spoke out of nowhere, making you look at him even though you were already halfway down the aisle. "You look good in those clothes" he seemed to be trying to smile, but you weren't sure. You smiled anyway, grateful for the compliment.

You returned with the bouquet, which would now serve as a decoration for the picnic. You could feel the intense gaze of your parents even if they tried to hide when they peeked, or, according to them, "watched" that everything was in order.

"Are you feeling better then?" he asked, looking at how simply decorated the picnic table was but somehow looked incredibly cozy, with perfect tree shade.

As was now usual, Wakatoshi didn't talk more than usual, at least not at first, he wanted to hear about how you were feeling, and how many days you would be out of school, although you assured him that you would be back to your activities by next Monday, and that, your friends would take care of sending you the homework you needed. Then the questions about him began.

You learned a lot, how he learned to play volleyball at a young age, his interest in cooking but his almost zero ability to make desserts. My mother could make some, you laughed, drinking some cranberry juice in a wine glass, your father's idea. He told you about his new interest in plants, and his father's work out of the country. Even some good anecdotes about the volleyball team.

Dessert was something completely different, by that time, she started to excitedly explain his last game, and what it was like to be in the Olympics. Although it wasn't as noticeable, you could tell in the way his lips curved into a slight smile as he tried to find the right words to define how he felt.

Reluctantly, and after offering to do the dishes, you said no, keeping the bento boxes with the promise that you would bring lunch on Monday for both of you, and now a wide smile on his face, even when he had to go home.

The following Monday came terribly slow, with the only thing that made it better being that Ushijima had not stopped her constant calls, the day possibly delayed by dark clouds heralding torrential rain.

"You don't have to keep apologizing anymore, look, even the wound has healed" you said, to Ushijima who was standing at the entrance, now with a box of the truffles you had liked so much, and which he had now made.

"I know. But I'd really like to walk with you at school" he smiled. "If you'll let me.

"I'd love to."

Life is made up of 80% causality and 20% chance, and, although you wouldn't want to repeat the literal hit of luck you received, you hadn't wanted it any other way.

Going to the gym because your friends wanted to see a cute boy on the volleyball team, having to leave early because you had things to do at home, leaving through the door you had to walk through on the court, getting hit in the head with a volleyball, only to end up walking to school with him, fingers barely brushing, a tender kiss on the cheek before he left.

Eating now inside the house, holding hands, a kiss on the corner of the lips. Waiting in the bleachers for practice to end, a number one jacket covering you from the rain.

The worst way to get to know each other, and, somehow, it seemed you were made for one another.

#ushijima wakatoshi x reader #ushijima x reader #ushijima x you #ushijima x y/n #wakatoshi x reader #wakatoshi icons #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu!!#haikyuu x you #hqhq server collab #hqhq server collab meet ugly

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katsukisbimbo · 4 years

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Kuroo x Volleyball Player! Reader

Kuroo Tetsurou x Volleyball Player! Reader

wordcount: 3,087

genre: strangers-to-lovers au with fluff, crack and a little bit of smut :)))

summary: meeting kuroo tetsurou might be the best thing that has ever happened to you

first of all

kuroo pissed you off to no end

absolutely pissed you off

the first time you met him was when you were a first year

your brother keishin has asked you to come with them for the practice match they had with nekoma

the moment you got to school you had to DASH to go to the washroom because you had to pEee

gosh

curse your tiny bladder

when you went out everyone was already on the bus

sigh

you were gonna have to sit with someone you don’t know

because FOR SURE

your stupid brother keishin would be sitting next to takeda-sensei

the moment you hopped on the bus

everyone suddenly became quiet

0.0

everyone was jus like

who’s this cutie

is she lost

she’s from shiratorizawa what’s she doing here

huh

and noya and tanaka are just screaming at this point

“wHO IS THIS GODDESS WHO DECIDED TO BLESS US WITH HER PRESENCE?!?!? I LOVE YOU PLEASE SIT NEXT TO ME RYU GET OUT NO I DONT CARE GET OUT”

cue tanaka landing on the floor

“nOYA-SAN WHY”

and you’re just like

lmao what

and literally all the seats are taken except for the guy who literally yeeted his bald friend into the next dimension

sigh

i guess you had to sit next to the cutie huh

you look at your brother pleading for help

but he just ignores you and talks to sensei

sIGH

your brother was so thirsty that he didn’t even CARE if these boys ate you alive

gosh

it’s okay

it be like that

f in the chat for y/n

oKAY enough self pitying

you reluctantly sit beside the really loud guy

“hi my names ukai y/n! what’s your name?”

“m-my name is n-nishinoya yuu”

cue noya looking like a literal tomato

“nice to meet you!! i’m excited to work with you nishinoya-san! if i may ask, what year are you in?”

“iM in sEcond yEar”

gosh noya’s so proud

“oH you’re my senpai then!! it’s really nice to meet you senpai!! i hope we have a good trip”

GAHSJDJSHS

you called him senpai

without him asking you to

GOSH

could you be any more perfect

“agHjsjdhsjajszjJAK”

“those aren’t words...”

“...”

and at that point noya was brain fried so you just put on your earphones and chilled

...

*gagging*

“hINATAAGAHAJSKSHS”

what

what was going on

you turned your head

and you saw this orange haired babie throwing up on the bald guy who got yeeted

and suddenly

chaos ensued

everyone was screaming because of the stench

you were gagging so hard that you felt your breakfast coming back up

but your seat buddy was having the time of his life laughing at his two friends who were having a dilemma

gosh

today was gonna be crazy

finally you guys had finally arrived at nekoma and honestly that’s as the most chaotic car ride you’ve ever experienced

but luckily on the way you’ve made yourself familiar with everyone on the team

especially the third year cuties

and no you did not say that to their faces because you’re shy :((

you guys finally get out of the bus and you see

a god

with crazy looking hair

“well if it isn’t the crows” “did you have a good ride here you country bumpkins?”

and daichi’s bout to lose it

“kuroo-san nice to see you again”

and you can definitely feel the tension in the air

was it just you or is it hot in here

kuroo suddenly turned to look at you and honestly you’ve never been more intimidated in your life because wow

he’s beautiful

“who’s the pretty girl daichi-san? is she your girlfriend?”

“no no she’s our couch’s sister”

“hi i’m ukai y/n, nice to meet you”

and you shake his hand and you’re SHOCKED

“kuroo tetsurou, likewise”

his hand is so warm n rough oh god

you suddenly wonder what it would feel like to have his hands slowly wrap around your throat as he starts to thru-

nO DIrtY ThOuGhTs

bad

bad y/n

you’ve been so caught up in your day dream that you didn’t realize that you were still hold kuroos hand

and you look up to see kuroo looking like a smug little shit as if he was saying

‘are you ever gonna let go or?’

and it really made you wanna hit him

really badly

you wanted to punch his mouth

with your mouth

GAHSJDGA

stOp

okay anyways

you snatch your hands away from kuroo and he just smirks at you like a smug little bastard

“what’s wrong kitten? didn’t wanna let go of my hand?”

at this point you’re too flustered to even talk so you take it as the time to back off and just let kuroo be a little fuckhead

but suddenly you’re snatched by tanaka and noya

you somehow end up bumping into kiyoko and you’re just like “omg i’m so sorry kiyoko-san i didn’t mea-“

“don’t worry about it y/n-chan, accidents happen”

and wow

wow

a goddess

now you see what tanaka and noya see

she’s beautiful

maybe you do want the best of both worlds.....

...

ANYWAYS

tanaka and noya end up showing you off to their equally as weird friend taketora and of course like the normal person you are you greet him and introduce yourself

but before he even gets the chance to talk kiyoko’s already pulling you away telling you that she needed some help with setting up some of their gear

and of course like the puppy you are you follow her because yes you’re in love with her

i mean

who isn’t

lesbi honest

everyone’s a simp for kiyoko

moving on

finally they’ve started to play a match

and you’re very impressed

especially by hinata and kageyama because wow their skill was amazing

and hinata’s jumps were crazy

obviously you played volleyball yourself being ukai’s grand daughter

and you weren’t that bad

considering the fact that you play for japan’s u19 team with ushijima

who was a very close senpai to you

so close to the point where you’d call him your older brother

rip keishin

back to the game

everyone in karasuno was very promising and you were getting excited with the ideas that were flooding into your head

but nekomas not too bad either

they were pretty solid with their defence and some people might think that it’s all about the attacks but

your attack doesn’t mean anything if the ball doesn’t touch the floor in the court

you were very impressed with the bedhead’s receives a n d blocking

every time he managed a good save or blocked anyone he would always glance in your direction

and it may or may not have made you feel nervous because who doesn’t get nervous when an attractive person looks at you

sadly

the game finished rather quickly

at this point everyone was already cleaning up and of course you decided to help

you thought that you would be able to play just a little bit but your brother just wanted you to familiarize yourself with the teams before you went on the week long training camp with them

which was in two weeks

you were trying to take the volleyball net down until a tall figure comes up behind you and takes the net from you

you turn around and guess who it is

kuroo frocking tetsurou

what a surprise

“don’t worry about it peaches i got it”

wha

did this man just call you PEACHES

peaches as in the scary girl who goes to famous peoples houses?

i think NOT sir

“pEACHES? what is that supposed to mean??! huh?!?”

“woah woah calm down babe, it’s just a nickname. i call you peaches cuz you smell like peaches”

ohhh

okay

that’s fine

“i’ve been wondering though, if you smell like peaches then would you taste like peaches??”

wHAT

wHATSGFSZHSJ

rip y/n’s remaining brain cells

“how about it doll? are you gonna give little old me a taste?”

and he’s suddenly pushing himself closer to you

and you close your eyes because it really looks like he’s about to kiss you and omg it’s like your first kiss hELP

but instead of a kiss

he just laughs at you

this man is literally bent over and CACKLING his lungs out

“you’re so cute doll, i wouldn’t kiss you without your permission. plus i gotta take you out first. wanna go on a date with me some time?”

and you’re just so caught off guard

that you can’t even manage a verbal response

like you just nod your head and then he’s ruffling you’re hair and walking away with the volleyball net

what the hell just happened

did you just score yourself a date

yes

yes you did

you go girl

sadly

it’s time for you and your babies to go

and kuroo being the good person he is

walks you guys out

but before you can get on the bus

kuroo pulls you to the side and bends down to your height to whisper in your ear

“text me sometime peaches”

and you suddenly feel him putting a piece of paper in your back pocket

then he’s pushing you onto the bus and you’re just dumbfounded

did he just touch your bum

could he not just hand it to you

not that you were complaining,,, but now you just wanna know what it would feel like if he just grabbed your bum with both of his hands while you sit on his la-

BAD

gosh you have it bad for this boy

the moment you got him you debated whether to text him or not

i mean

you didn’t even look at the piece of paper yet

so you go into you back pocket and open the paper

‘xxx-xxx-xxxx text me when you get home peaches, i already miss your pretty face -kuroo’

WHY IS HE SO CUTE

you get up and start looking for your phone

and you spend like 6 minutes trying to think of what to say

but you finally settled with

hi :)

hopefully that was normal enough

and not even 1 minute later you already got a reply

hey cutie :) did you get home safe

wHY IS HE SO DARN CUTE

and your conversation goes from there

you guys literally talk about everything

from his favourite colour to the time when your leg fell in a hole and you slammed your whole body on the ground causing your ribs to shift and now whenever somebody touches the top of your chest they can feel the top of your ribs

(that was actually a true story and yes it happened to me and yes my ribs are very very fucked up but i’m still alive soooo)

by the time you were back in tokyo

you and kuroo were basically best friends

you guys texted, called, and facetimed every day

you stepped out of the bus and low and behold

it was kuroo waiting for you

“tETSUU”

you run to him and jump in his arms

and he catches you and swings you around a few times

everyone was just like

o.o

‘when did they get so close’

and your older brothers just like

>:(

this is n o t good shaggy

and kuroo introduces you to everyone

especially his buddies bokutou, akaashi, and kenma

and bokutou’s bombarding you with questions

and he asks why you’re wearing a shiratorizawa sweater

and you’re just like ‘i go to school there..’

and he’s just like

“oH YOU KNOW USHIJIMA? IM IN THE TOP 5 ACES RANKING WITH HIM IM SO COOL RIGHT”

“bokuto-san i think you’re scaring her”

“aKAAASHGHSI YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO SAY ‘bokuto-san you’re so cool’”

and you and kuroo are just laughing your asses off

while kenma’s playing with his psp

pspspspspsppss

“bokuto-san you’re so cool”

“aKAAASHUDID YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO SAY IT EARLIER”

at that point you and kuroo have already walked away

and he brings you to your room

and helps you settle down your things

gosh he’s such a gentleman

y/n was ready to risk it all for this man

“peaches you okay?”

“oH i’m fine yes yes i’m fine tetsu”

“okaaaayyyy if you say so peaches” and kuroos just going through your bag checking if you have snacks

“tetsu i don’t have any snacks in there for you”

“really? what do you mean? you do have a snack for me tho”

and you’re jus like lol no i don’t

and he’s slowly walking towards you and you highkey feel intimidated but fuck that you’re not a bussy

at this point kuroo’s sitting on your legs while his arms are slowly creeping up your sides

and in your head

you’re just like

‘ahh this is it i’m gonna have a heart attack’

and suddenly

kuroo’s tickling you and you’re crying on the floor because HSJDJH

TICKLES

“tETSU PLEASE I CANT BREATHEEHHHD”

“what’s that peach? i cant hear you”

“tETSU YOU DIPSHIT PLEASE STOPFDISHS”

“hmm i don’t know, i think i’ll stop if you say ‘nya’ for me”

“gO TO HELLSKDIS”

“come on pretty, say it for me”

you’re blushing sO HARD

“n-nya”

and kuroo just freezes up because he didn’t think that you’d actually do it

“tetsu? u ok?”

“...”

“tetsu”

“o-oH yeah i’m fine silly i was just thinking”

“what were you thinking about neko-chan?”

“you.”

GAHSJDJSHSGS

he was going to be the death of you

you, kuroo, bokutou, akaashi, hinata, and tsukishima suddenly ended up at an empty gym

and you guys wanted to play a match so

why not

it was you, kuroo, and tsukki

versus bokutou, hinata, and akaashi

it was a very intense but fun game

akaashi set to bokutou and bokutou did a cross shot

which wasn’t properly blocked by tsukishima

but luckily you were there to pick it up

and kuroo set to you and you slammed it down before they could even block you

the whole gym was silent

wha

how did-

hUH

“peach what”

“what tetsu”

“since when were you so good at volleyball”

“tetsu i play for japan’s u19 team, why did you think i was here in the first place? i’m here to help you guys”

and hinata’s just yelling

“y/n-cHAN I DIDNT KNOW YOU PLAYED NO WONDER WHY YOU LOOKED SO FAMILLIAR OMGJDSI”

after you got exposed

it was only you and tetsu left in the gym

after everything was cleaned up

kuroo pulled you aside before you could leave the gym

“t-tetsu what’re you doing? the gym lights are already of-“

“shut up for one second”

o.o

ogey then

“peaches i really like you. i know that we haven’t known each other long but it feels like i’ve known you since forever. will please let me take you out”

what

...

did he just

yes he did

“t-tetsu,,, i really like you too, and i would love it if we could go out on a date sometime”

and at that moment tetsu just

“HELL YEAHHH”

and he’s getting close to you again

to the point where he’s pressing you against the wall

he cups your cheek and leans closer to your face

“peaches,, can i please kiss you right now”

“yeah”

you close your eyes as you feel tetsu’s hot breath hovering other your soft lips

gosh

this was it

your were gonna kiss tetsu

your crush

until

...

“gET YOUR HANDS OFF MY SISTER BRAT”

and kuroos just like

wHAT THE FUCK

it’s your brother

keishin

“nII-SAN WHY”

“gET OVER HERE RIGHT NOW Y/N”

and you sadly look up at tetsu

and he just smiles at you and gestures for you to go

until you get up on your tippy toes and kiss tetsu full on the mouth

you catch him by surprise but he quickly kisses you back

you wrap your arms around his neck and slowly work your way up into his hair until you’ve got a good grip on him

kuroos hands weren’t staying still either

his hands were slowly creeping down your sides until he grabs the back of your thighs and pulls you up and holds you against him

his hands end up on your bum

and then

he squeezes

“THAT IS IT Y/N STOP SUCKING FACE AND GET OVER HERE”

oops

#haikyuu!!#haikyuu fluff #haikyuu smut #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu angst #haikyuu kuroo #kuroo tetsurou #kuroo x reader #volleyball #volleygays #Smut #fanfic #kuroo tetsuro x reader #kuroo tetsuro headcanons

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junker-town · 4 years

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The 2021 NBA Draft will be way better than the 2020 draft

Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The 2021 NBA Draft will be loaded. Start planning (or tanking) now.

The worst-kept secret in the NBA right now was subtly acknowledged in the most talked about deal of the 2020 trade deadline. When the Golden State Warriors sent D’Angelo Russell to Minnesota, they insisted on taking the Timberwolves’ first-round draft pick in 2021 (top-three protected) rather than a pick this year.

That might be because front offices around the league are coming to realize the 2020 draft isn’t particularly exciting. With the necessary caveat that even the weakest drafts still yield a number of high-end starters and usually at least one or two stars, the talent available at the top of this year’s class certainly feels a cut below the last several years. There remains no consensus No. 1 pick, with Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, and James Wiseman all vying for the honor.

Edwards is scoring at below-average efficiency for a Georgia team that’s only one game over .500. Ball ended his season in Australia shooting 26.8 percent from the field and 25 percent from three-point range. Wiseman’s archetype is devalued in today’s game, and his physical tools aren’t quite as elite as they were hyped to be out of high school. Teams would feel a lot more comfortable taking any of these players outside the top three than at No. 1.

The Warriors’ request for a first-rounder a year from now went beyond just an uninspiring 2020 draft, though. At the moment, the 2021 NBA Draft looks like it’s shaping up to be something special. Teams looking to reset with a youth movement would be wise to start focusing on 2021 right now.

The 2021 draft looks really promising for a few different reasons

There’s a few things scouts are looking for when assessing how strong a draft is. Here’s a short list:

Elite talent at the top

Potential all-star talent that goes deep into the lottery

Versatile athletes that fit into how the league wants to play today, and going forward.

It sure feels like the 2021 draft checks every box right now. A lot can change in the next 16.5 months, but those who have kept a close eye on the American prep scene and a couple young international pros are already seeing the signs of a very good class.

Cade Cunningham is the top prospect

Cunningham, a Texas native, might be ranked No. 3 in ESPN’s high school recruiting rankings, but there should be no debate that he currently looks like the biggest prize available in 2021. If Cunningham — who is committed to Oklahoma State — plays as well in college as his biggest supporters suspect, he might not be far behind where Luka Doncic and Zion Williamson stood as prospects before entering the draft.

Cunningham is a 6’7, 215-pound point guard currently playing his high school ball for a historically loaded Montverde team, the same school that produced Russell, Ben Simmons, and R.J. Barrett. As NBA teams have moved away from traditional point guards in favor of oversized offensive initiators, Cunningham feels like an ideal prospect for the modern era.

Cunningham is in complete control of the game with the ball in his hands. He initiates offense out of the pick-and-roll with great poise and tremendous vision, knowing he has the passing ability to find teammates if defenses collapse on him and the strength and touch to score if they don’t. His numbers as a rising senior on Nike’s EYBL circuit were absolutely dominant: 23.8 points, seven rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game on 35 percent shooting from deep, good for a 65.9 true shooting percentage with the best box score plus-minus in the league.

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Cunningham still has lots of room to grow as an outside shooter. He could be more aggressive as a scorer. But the team that lands him will give him the ball from day one and hope to have the league’s next great offensive initiator for the rest of this decade.

Evan Mobley and Jalen Green are also hyped prospects

Mobley and Green are Nos. 1 and 2 in ESPN’s high school rankings. Both have been wildly hyped throughout their high school careers because of freaky traits that simply can’t be taught.

For Mobley, it’s his rare agility at his size. A 7’ center, Mobley zooms around the court with incredible fluidity on both ends. It is almost impossible for a player with this type of size and length to move so well and get off the ground so quickly. Mobley is already there, and it serves as the foundation of what makes him a tantalizing long-term prospect. He’s committed to USC, where his brother Isaiah plays and where his dad is an assistant coach.

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The term “elite athleticism” gets thrown around too much in draft evaluation, but it fits for Green. A 6’5 shooting guard out of Fresno, Green earned acclaim early in his high school career as a ridiculous leaper who also put up big scoring numbers. He has become a skilled pull-up shooter and developing passer while his thin frame continues to fill out.

Jalen Green HERE WE GO AGAIN @JalenRomande @CrushValley pic.twitter.com/DoJPVcr7r8

— Overtime (@overtime) January 26, 2020

Scouts are hoping Green can one day be a primary scorer who puts immense pressure on the rim with his driving while still being able to pull-up for a jump shot.

The American high school ranks are deep beyond the top three

While Cunningham feels like the front-runner to go No. 1, there’s no guarantee Mobley and Green eventually go second and third behind him. That’s because what makes the high school class of 2020 captivating is the depth within the five-star players.

There are some truly standout players with fascinating skill sets in this class. A quick primer:

Jaden Springer: A strong, long 6’5 guard who can play on or off the ball, Springer plays with great intensity on both ends of the court, thrives attacking the rim, and has shown promising signs of a pull-up game. He’s committed to Tennessee.

Jaden Springer sets up the ball screen with the sharp cross then hits Barnes with the unbelievably filthy behind the back. No chance he wasn't hitting the pull-up after that pic.twitter.com/mwovbq3xxc

— Max Carlin (@maxacarlin) January 8, 2020

Jalen Johnson: A versatile 6’9 forward, Johnson is a nightly triple-double threat who hits the glass hard and loves to find open teammates as a passer. He’s one of the best transition players in the class. He needs to improve as a shooter. He’s committed to Duke.

JALEN JOHNSON LOOKIN’ BOUNCY @Jalen_J23 pic.twitter.com/LLkiRo3qL2

— Overtime (@overtime) February 12, 2020

Scottie Barnes: A strong, long, and intelligent 6’8 forward, Barnes is one of the best defenders in the class and can give any lineup some unique flexibility as a small ball center. Shooting remains his biggest weakness. He’s committed to Florida State.

Scottie Barnes has become an incredible all around basketball player. Amazing IQ, defensive versatility, length, strength & physicality. I think FIBA U19 really helped him. Spent last week guarding Hunter Dickinson(7’1 250lbs) & this week guarding Sharife Cooper. pic.twitter.com/IanjOQNB6Q

— Ross Homan (@Ross_homan1) December 23, 2019

Ziaire Williams: A 6’9 wing who can attack the basket and hit a catch-and-shoot jumper, Williams was one of the EYBL’s leading scorers at 21.7 points per game while hitting 88 percent of his free throws.

B.J. Boston: Williams’ high school teammate on Sierra Canyon, Boston is a skinny 6’6 wing with developed ball handling ability and a solid shooting stroke. He’s committed to Kentucky.

BJ Boston with the handle + touch on tough layup. Wheeeww. pic.twitter.com/5bHOMdiLh9

— Max Carlin (@maxacarlin) January 4, 2020

Terrence Clarke: An attacking 6’7 wing, Clarke is a determined scorer who reclassified after being considered the top prospect in the high school class of 2021. He’s committed to Kentucky.

Jalen Suggs: A former top quarterback recruit, Suggs is a 6’4 point guard with impressive feel for the game and the strength to absorb contact. He’s committed to Gonzaga.

JALEN SUGGS LOOK AT HIM @JalenSuggs2020 pic.twitter.com/0WtH0Q2Q96

— Overtime (@overtime) February 8, 2020

Greg Brown: A 6’8 wing loaded with quick-twitch athleticism, Brown is a great defender who doesn’t need the ball to contribute. His offense remains a major work in progress.

Add in a wing like Tennessee commit Keon Johnson, a scoring guard in North Carolina commit Caleb Love, an explosive big man in Michigan State commit Isaiah Jackson, and a potential 3-and-D guard in Arkansas commit Moses Moody, and you have the makings of a loaded, deep class.

There will be an international presence, too

Usman Garuba looks like the top international prospect right now. The 6’8 big man is currently holding down a rotation spot for Real Madrid in the ACB league at 17 years old. He’s showed impressive physicality and defensive instincts while his shooting and passing skills are just scratching the surface. Garuba’s versatility as a small ball center will be intriguing in a league that continues to downsize.

Some impressive moments for 17-year-old Real Madrid product Usman Garuba in a win over Joventut. Started his first career ACB game, knocked down a corner 3 and showed some of his defensive versatility at 6-8. More on Garuba's game and background: https://t.co/nq7aLWwTLq pic.twitter.com/e5MvJ21f0l

— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) September 28, 2019

Roko Prkacin is another potential lottery pick. A 6’8 scoring wing from Croatia, Prkacin has starred in FIBA youth competitions with a complete offensive package that allows him to attack the rim, pull-up from three, and find teammates as a passer.

6-8, 210, 7-0 wingspan with an NBA frame, excellent vision, defensive instincts, and a killer mentality. 15-year-old Croatian forward Roko Prkacin had himself a coming out partin in Novi Sad at the U16 Euros. https://t.co/jV7wL8vFPk pic.twitter.com/IBaHErdZlF

— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) August 23, 2018

There’s also Ibou Badji, a 7’1 center with a reported 7’9 wingspan who averaged more than three blocks per game playing for Senegal in the 2019 U19 FIBA World Cup. More prospects will join them as the 2021 draft draws closer.

More will join them, too

Jonathan Kuminga is currently the No. 1 prospect in the 2021 high school class, but there are rumors he could reclassify to play college ball next year. If it happens, he could be a potential top-five pick as an athletic 6’8 forward with aggressive scoring instincts and an impressive feel for the game. He’s ready physically for the next level.

These are only the potential one-and-dones. There will be college veterans who make an attempt to crash the lottery, too. It’s just too difficult to project them now before we know who is entering the 2020 draft and who is staying in school.

The 2022 and 2023 classes should be deep and talented as well with Emoni Bates, Victor Wembanyama, Paolo Banchero, and A.J. Griffin profiling as the top prospects. One of those drafts will likely be the “double draft” that features the final one-and-done class and the first preps-to-pros class, assuming the NBA abolishes the age limit as is rumored to happen.

The 2020 NBA Draft might not be all that exciting, but there are many great long-term prospects in the basketball pipeline from all over the world. NBA teams better start scouting and planning now.

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thisdaynews · 4 years

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Super Bowl 2020: The NFL Academy & its first students on new path to US game

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/super-bowl-2020-the-nfl-academy-its-first-students-on-new-path-to-us-game/

Super Bowl 2020: The NFL Academy & its first students on new path to US game

The first intake of students started at the academy in September

It’s 5am and an alarm clock goes off in Milton Keynes. Fraser Holden has to get up and out in time to catch the 05:53 to London Euston.

From there he takes the tube to Southgate, north London, and is down to work by 7.30am. He might not leave until five in the afternoon.

Unlike the other commuters, Fraser travels kitted out in sportswear. He’s 16 and is going to college to learn how to play American football. Today. the aspiring linebacker will meet Jerry Rice, one of the greatest players of all time.

Yet this is not a one-off, it’s a regular day at the NFL Academy. Backed by the NFL, Nike and some superstar mentors, the programme is the first of its kind in Britain.

The aim? To transform the perception of American football in the UK and Europe.

The NFL said nothing until a surprise social media campaign announced the details last May. Within two weeks, over 1,500 had applied for the 90 places on offer.

In September, the first intake started at Barnet & Southgate College. Here, 16-to-18-year-olds study for regular qualifications alongside elite American football training.

Fraser was one of those who applied. He grew up playing rugby but had started playing small-sided American football games too. He was lured by the ‘We Can, We Do’ campaign, aimed at British youngsters dreaming of following Efe Obada and Jay Ajayi into the NFL.

The first try-outs were held in June. Cleveland Browns’ wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr was there – as well as BBC pundits Osi Umenyiora and Jason Bell.

From the outset, the message was clear. Academy hopefuls would be judged on their attitude and character as much as their athletic ability. And the programme would be very demanding.

Jerry Rice is widely regarded as the greatest wide receiver in NFL history

“It’s dedication, it’s commitment,” says Will Bryce, NFL UK’s head of player development. “It’s prioritising studying, managing your time, getting to bed early, getting off social media when you don’t need to be on it. It gives the kids structure, they’re part of a team, plus there are some pretty cool opportunities too.”

Selfies with OBJ was just the start. After the try-outs, 150 hopefuls were called back to a stadium showcase in the first NFL event at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in July. There they met Obada himself and did drills with Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Juju Smith-Schuster.

Fraser was among the 90 eventually accepted. He admits the first few weeks of the programme were “a big shake-up – especially after going to school five minutes away”. Now he is proud to wear his NFL-branded kit, to be one of those who stands out on campus.

In pride of place is the academy gym, which was converted from the college’s theatre and now features NFL branding inside and out. Jerry Rice came for the official opening.

The 57-year-old, who won three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers, tells students that at their age he was a “diamond in the rough”, that he never thought he would play professional football, that he wasn’t the greatest athlete and didn’t have the best skills but refused to let anybody “out-work him”.

The legendary receiver speaks with the ‘inspiration wall’ as backdrop. It features quotes from NFL players, each one almost always featuring the same word – work. Three more are prominent too: Responsibility, integrity, respect.

The students are often here lifting weights at 7.30am. For linebacker Fraser and defensive end Tyrese Peters-Tovey, 19, the strength and conditioning work has been the toughest part. But the shared experience quickly saw the group bond.

“You kind of have to when you’re running 110-yard sprints together and running into each other for three hours a day!” Fraser says.

Each week they have three field sessions, four classroom sessions and four weightlifting sessions. On Wednesdays, the focus is on character development. Staff and external speakers talk about life skills, wellbeing, and issues such as social media safety and domestic violence.

They have 10 hours of classes in their chosen subjects – the same as all the college’s students – plus 15 hours of training on top. And if anybody wants extra video footage to review in their own time – an essential part of life in the NFL – staff are happy to oblige.

“If they’re willing to put the work in, we’ll match it and then some,” says Bryce. “It’s going to produce a type of American football player which this country has not produced before. They’re going to be much better prepared to compete in the NFL, mentally and physically.”

Only 90 could be accepted for the academy’s first intake in September

Head coach is Tony Allen – the long-serving London Warriors coach. He and his staff have had to tailor sessions to accommodate a range of skillsets.

Some signed up having already broken into Great Britain’s Under-19s, some had never played a snap. Many have come across from rugby, others have switched from sports like athletics, tennis, judo and swimming. In total, 32 of the 90 students are considered ‘crossover athletes’.

While American youngsters grow up with the game, British players like Umenyiora and Obada have proved you can pick it up late and still succeed.

Umenyiora was born in London and hadn’t even heard of American football until he moved to Alabama at the age of 14. He went on to win two Super Bowls. Obada didn’t play until he was 22 and, five years on, has just signed for a third year with the Carolina Panthers.

“We always said that if we’re going to help develop European talent we need to get them earlier and here we are working with 16-year-olds,” says Allen.

Students come from very different backgrounds, too. Three are involved with the Big Kid Foundationwhich seeks to help “young people at risk of social exclusion and youth violence”. Another is a former pupil at Charterhouse boarding school in Surrey.

Thirty-five have left home to be here – 30 from further afield in the UK, five from Europe. Because they’re under 18 they aren’t permitted to live on their own, so the college has partnered with a homestay programme to place them with local families, with extra pastoral and welfare staff on hand to support them.

The dream for many is to earn a scholarship and join the American collegiate system, from which NFL players are drafted. The academy has therefore had to find centres in London where they can sit the SAT test, for college admissions in the US.

That’s true of George Reynolds. He wants to be the NFL’s first British quarterback and has just been out in Florida. He was one of eight from the academy, selected by fellow students, to take part in a High School skills showdownbefore Sunday’s Pro Bowl all-star game in Orlando.

Fraser has recently joined George in the British U19 squad, and although he also hopes to play in the US too, he feels his academic choices could help him pursue an alternative career in politics.

Tyrese chose to put off university for a year, moving from Hackney to his dad’s in Enfield so he could be closer to campus. While his parents backed the decision, he initially faced opposition from his grandparents, who are lawyers and dentists in Trinidad.

“They made it sound like I wasn’t being productive,” Tyrese says. “But I’m not just getting better at football, I have a chance to get a qualification and get something in life.

“Whatever happens after this, I’ll be a better player and a better person. I think I made the right choice.”

Fraser Holden grew up playing rugby but switched over to American Football

With the NFL’s regular season already over, British players Christian Scotland-Williamson and Jamie Gillan recently dropped by. Obada is also set to pay another visit.

He and Scotland-Williamson are products of the International Player Pathway, which started in 2017. And the success of that programme, for over-20s, gave Alistair Kirkwood the inspiration to revisit an idea he first presented early in his 20-year tenure as NFL UK’s managing director.

Back then, things were focused solely on producing more elite, international players. But after helping bring regular season games to London, Kirkwood realised an academy could do much more.

“We wanted something from a community perspective in north London that was more year-round and impactful than just playing the London Games,” he says.

“Now education is as important in the academy as the athletic side, if not more so. An elite few will go to the States but success for us is 100% of kids having some form of defined success, be it going on to further education, becoming more employable or being role models who can influence younger kids.

“We’ve had lots of little landmarks where we’ve confounded ourselves and gone on to greater things but of all of these, I’d say the academy has the potential to be truly transformational. It could be something we look back on and say it changed the shape of the sport.”

As the students watch Super Bowl 54 this Sunday, it will be with a clear path of how one day they could get there too. Realistically, few will make it. Only 1.6% of US college players were drafted in 2018.

But even if they don’t, the experience will last a lifetime, wherever their future lies.

#first #students

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thrashermaxey · 5 years

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Ramblings: Dahlin Flirting With History, Post-All-Star Snoozers, Laine, Bergeron, and Bob (Jan 30)

The Jets and Bruins matched up in a marquee battle on Tuesday evening. It did not disappoint. In a game that featured back and forth action and no team ever leading by more than a goal, it was Kyle Connor who played the hero.

The 21-year-old tallied two third-period goals – his 20th and 21st of the season and buried the shootout winner as the Jets took this one 4-3 on the road.

Patrik Laine skated just 10:55 in the affair – the second lowest total of his career. Things are not falling into favour for the 20-year-old winger. He has just two goals and four points in his last 17 games.

His 34 points in 50 contests put him far and away on pace for the lowest statistical output of his young career, and it’s not for a lack of trying. Laine has been firing pucks on net at a career-best 3.44 per game pace. However, both his five-on-five and personal shooting percentages have taken a hit.

Many, myself included, expected the former second overall selection to be able to live in the rare air of the high-teens when it came to conversion rate. He had done so through his first 150-plus games, but this season it’s shrunk to 14.5.

That mark still represents an impressive output, but the decrease illustrates the impact on a player who has become wholly one-dimensional on the scoresheet. Laine’s inability to find an apple or two lying around the yard is concerning, but his IPP is certainly due to come up from the 54.8 mark it sits at now.

If you’re asking yourself if this is a good buy-low window, the answer is yes. Both in one-year leagues and especially keepers.

Laine’s insolation from Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele at even-strength will undoubtedly continue to impact his high-end ceiling, but I trust in skill. Laine is due for a scoring bender and his assist rate should see an uptick as well. All that adds up to a decent bet for a strong back 30.

He'll need the ice time though.

Patrice Bergeron tallied two goals, six shots, a hit, a takeaway and went 65 percent in the faceoff dot. Just another night at the Garden for one of the all-time greats.

Despite missing 16 games due to injury, the 33-year-old is still on pace to record 32 goals and 84 points in just 66 games. The goal total would match his career-high, while the 84 points would demolish his previous best (68).

Like a good wine, Bergy keeps getting better with age.

The trio of Bergeron, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand came together for seven points in this one. They remain right near the top of the heap when it comes to stacking full lines. As risky as that can be in head-to-head setups, it’s not too often those three are held to a quiet night.

2016 first rounder, Trent Frederic suited up in his first NHL contest for the Bruins on Tuesday. He skated just nine minutes but managed to land himself a highlight by throwing some serious hands with Brandon Tanev.

{youtube}LziqBwWXi9A{/youtube}

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Austin Watson has been placed in Stage 2 of the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program because of alcohol abuse. He will be suspended without pay until cleared.</p>— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) <a href="https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1090369818019221504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2019</a></blockquote>

This news is unlikely to affect your fantasy squad much. But it’s noteworthy that Auston Watson gets the help he needs. This comes on the heels of the Domestic Abuse charge from last summer.

It’s clear this guy needs to get his head right.

Buffalo pounced on a continually-shaky, Sergei Bobrovsky on Tuesday. They scored five goals on 34 shots to hand the 30-year-old, two-time Vezina winner a 5-4 loss. Bob has had just one quality start over the past month. He’s 3-5-0 with a 0.863 save percentage over that span. He's sporting a 0.902 overall on the campaign.

After word came down that Artemi Panarin wouldn’t talk contract with CBJ until the offseason and fans in Columbus booing him when he touched the puck (yes, that really happened tonight) the trade deadline is going to be very interesting in Columbus.

General Manager, Jarmo Kekäläinen has his plate overflowing. Despite the loss, the Blue Jackets still own a precarious divisional playoff spot. But do they believe they have the horses to get this thing over the finish line?

If not, it’s hard to imagine letting either or both of Bob and Panarin to reach unrestricted free agency and risk losing them for babkas.

Speaking of Panarin, he had a regular night at the office by chipping in a couple of assists in 22:12 of ice. He has 21 points in his last 15 games while being on pace for a tidy 96 points. His 1.17 point-per-game pace somehow sits outside of the top-15 this season.

What a time to be alive!

On the positive side of the ledger, Rasmus Dahlin is really coming into his own. The 18-year-old assisted on two goals Tuesday while going +4 in 17:12 of action. That brings him up to 28 points in 49 games.

At this point, his 0.57 point-per-game output is bordering on the historical. From an ALL-TIME perspective, here are the top seasons from U19 defenders:

Phil Housley 66 points in 77 games (0.86)

Bobby Orr 41 points in 61 games (0.67)

Aaron Ekblad 39 points in 81 games (0.48)

Rasmus Dahlin 29 points in 49 games (0.57)

The 2018 first overall selection is tracking very well to finish third on that list, but don’t count out a late run to overtake Orr. Dahlin has eight points in his last seven games and is looking more comfortable with each passing contest.

With his sixth multi-point outing, he joins the aforementioned, Orr and Housley as the only other defenders to reach that mark before their 19th birthdays.

Oh, the numbers this kid is going to put up over his career. Here’s hoping you took him first overall in keeper drafts this summer (thanks for the gift, Patty).

Anthony Stolarz and the Flyers shutout the Rangers 1-0 in the final game of the evening. Oskar Lindblom scored the only marker just 100 seconds into the game. Assists to Sean Couturier and Jakub Voracek.

Couts is riding hot these days. After an icy four points in 12 games to begin his season, the 26-year-old has been playing at a point-per-game pace. He has 11 points in his last eight games and seems primed to keep that pace up – this despite being away from Claude Giroux at even-strength for the last little while.

Following up on Ian’s Sunday night dig into players who have historically clicked on impressive second halves, I’m here to bring the dread. The Debbie Downer to his Positive Pete.

I’ve combed through far too many game logs since 2014-15 to discover some performers who have left their owners wanting more at the most inopportune time of the year – fantasy playoff season. These stats are taken from post-All-Star break until the completion of the regular season.

First up, the Flyers’ captain.

Claude Giroux

You might think this one seems strange considering that Giroux produced a whopping 45 points in 35 games down the stretch in 2017-18. It was the final touch on a career-best 101-point campaign. It also stands alone as his finest second-half performance sprinkled amongst several disappointing springs.

The first bracket will indicate the point-per-game output post-All-Star break. The second bolded bracket will represent the year-end point-per-game total.

2014-15: 22 points in 34 games (0.65) (0.90)

2015-16: 28 points in 34 games (0.82) (0.86)

2016-17: 18 points in 32 games (0.56) (0.71)

2017-18: 45 points in 33 games (1.36) (1.23)

Even riding a five-game win streak, the Flyers remain 10 points out of a wild-card spot and are more likely to settle at the bottom of the standings than make a late charge. Thus, it’s more than conceivable to expect Giroux to see his production slide a bit. Heading out of the break, Giroux has just six points in his previous 10 contests.

The entire Flyers' squad being on a down season will likely affect the trade value even on a stud like Giroux, but it may not hurt to test the waters. Don’t be afraid to use the Schedule Planning feature on Frozen Tools to suss out a suitable trade target that may have some better matchups during the fantasy playoff weeks.

Tyler Seguin

Seguin has been one of the most consistent producers over the last five seasons. He’s never played below a 72-point pace while clicking above a point-per-game on three occasions. However, he tends to do most of his damage on the front-nine.

2014-15: 25 points in 25 games (1.00) (1.08)

2015-16: 20 points in 22 games (0.91) (1.01)

2016-17: 25 points in 32 games (0.78) (0.88)

2017-18: 35 points in 32 games (1.09) (0.95)

The good news here is that the 26-year-old bucked the back-half, downward trend last season. He’s been much better since his CEO embarrassed himself as well as Seguin and Jamie Benn a month ago. Dallas continues to be in the hunt for a Wild Card spot, and they’ll need their best player rolling.

This is one of the situations where I’d bank on the player, rather than the downside.

John Klingberg

The All-Star blueliner has been one of the few bright spots in Big D these last few seasons. He’s consistently been among the top producing defenders since entering the league in 2014-15. He’s never played below a 50-point pace and is coming off a career-high 67 points a season ago.

But like those mentioned above him, he tends to see his production dip as the season wears on.

2014-15: 22 points in 33 games (0.66) (0.62)

2015-16: 18 points in 26 games (0.69) (0.76)

2016-17: 22 points in 32 games (0.69) (0.61)

2017-18: 19 points in 32 games (0.59) (0.82)

Similar to teammate, Seguin, Klingberg is attempting to drag his squad into a much-needed post-season berth. He’s playing very well since returning from injury and has seven points in his last six contests. Despite seeing his numbers slide in back portions during three of his four full seasons, I’d be willing to bet the 26-year-old bucks that trend in 2018-19.

Follow me on Twitter @Hockey_Robinson

from All About Sports https://dobberhockey.com/hockey-rambling/ramblings-dahlin-flirting-with-history-post-all-star-snoozers-laine-bergeron-and-bob-jan-30/

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jordstyle · 6 years

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Bundesliga Season Preview Part One: Mid-tablers, strugglers and newcomers

VAVEL UK takes a look at nine of the teams hoping for big things this year.

Hertha BSC Team Photo. | Photo: Ottmar Winter/Bongarts/Getty Images.

After a long wait, the Bundesliga finally makes its return this summer and it will be a welcome relief for German football fans after the failure of the Germany squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Many will be wondering if this is the season that someone finally manages to topple the supremacy of Bayern Munich. The rest will laugh off such delusions. But even if the status quo at the top remains, there’s European places to be won and the dreaded drop to be avoided.

In the first part of our season preview, we look at last season’s lower-half finishers – Hertha BSC, Werder Bremen, FC Augsburg, Hannover 96, 1. FSV Mainz 05, SC Freiburg and VfL Wolfsburg, as well as the newly-promoted pair of Fortuna Düsseldorf and 1. FC Nürnberg.

Hertha BSC

Last season: 10th

Manager: Pál Dárdai

Pre-season friendlies: RSV Eintracht 1949 (7-0 W), SC Westfalia Herne (2-0 W), MSV Duisburg (1-0 W), MSV Neuruppin (9-1 W), FK Dukla Prague (3-2 W), Atalanta (3-2 L), FC Liefering (4-1 W), Aiginiakos (7-0 W), Hallescher FC (4-1 W)

DFB-Pokal First Round: 2-1 win vs Eintracht Braunschweig

Opening game: Home to Nürnberg (25 August)

Transfers in: Valentino Lazaro (Red Bull Salzburg), Javairô Dilrosun (Manchester City U23), Lukas Klünter (1. FC Köln), Pascal Köpke (Erzgebirge Aue), Marko Gruji? (Liverpool, loan)

Transfers out: Mitchell Weiser (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Schieber (Augsburg), Genki Haraguchi (Hannover), Nils Körber (VfL Osnabrück, loan), Maximilian Pronichev (Aue, loan)

The pressures of a failed campaign in Europe helped to stop the upward moment of die Alte Dame under Dárdai, but they rarely slipped much lower than their eventual finishing position of tenth, sitting comfortably in mid-table for the majority of the season.

It’s difficult to foresee things being any worse this time around. Their new signings have been unspectacular but all have the potential to be big hits, with the signings of Dilrosun and Gruji? particularly interesting. The latter, on loan from Liverpool, may even start the opening game against Nürnberg despite only joining training this week. Klünter has also shown promise for Köln whilst Köpke provides another option up top, especially with Davie Selke out for the first couple of months of the season.

Weiser is the only notable departure, meaning that Dárdai will be under no pressure to bed in the new faces straight away, and that should stand them in good stead, especially in the early stages of the season, to push for a third top half finish in four years, provided that last year’s plateau was only a temporarily blip.

Werder Bremen

Last season: 11th

Manager: Florian Kohfeldt

Pre-season friendlies: FC Eintracht Cuxhaven (8-0 W), OSC Bremerhaven (5-0 W), 1. FK P?íbram (1-1 D), Duisburg (1-0 W), Köln (1-0 L), Rot-Weiss Essen (1-0 L), Huddersfield Town (1-0 W), Arminia Bielefeld (1-0 W), FC Groningen (0-0 D), VVV-Venlo (1-1 D), Villarreal (3-2 L)

DFB-Pokal First Round: 6-1 win vs VfR Wormatia Worms

Opening game: Home to Hannover (25 August)

Transfers in: Kevin Möhwald (Nürnberg), Yuya Osako (Köln), Martin Harnik (Hannover), Felix Beijmo (Djurgårdens IF), Jan-Niklas Beste (Borussia Dortmund U19), Davy Klaassen (Everton), Claudio Pizarro (Köln), Stefanos Kapino (Nottingham Forest)

Transfers out: László Kleinheisler (FC Astana), Sambou Yatabaré (Royal Antwerp), Zlatko Junuzovi? (Salzburg), Leon Guwara (FC Utrecht), Thomas Delaney (Dortmund), Jérôme Gondorf (Freiburg), Justin Eilers (Apollon Smyrnis), Ulisses Garcia (BSC Young Boys), Robert Bauer (Nürnberg, loan), Lennart Thy (Büyük?ehir Belediye Erzurumspor), Niklas Schmidt (SV Wehen Wiesbaden, loan), Fallou Diagne (Konyaspor)

Last season took an almost clichéd feel. An awful start, which resulted in the current boss being replaced by the young coach of the under 23. He did enough to earn a permanent appointment, and Bremen flourished in the spring to turn attentions from battling relegation to dreams of Europe that never quite came to pass. That was the story of 2016-17 just as much as it was of 2017-18, although the revival wasn’t quite so dramatic this time around.

But can Kohfeldt succeed where Alexander Nouri failed and take Bremen to the next level? There are reasons to be optimistic on the Weser. No matter how much he struggled in England, Klaassen was a glamour signing suited to an upwardly-mobile club, whilst they are so bursting with attacking options that the re-signing of Pizarro is more a sentimental luxury than a necessity.

If they can avoid the early-season blues that have seen both of their previous head coaches, than a return to Europe after nearly a decade could well be possible. They are more reliable at the back then they have been in recent years, with Ji?í Pavlenka a top class goalkeeper. Further forward meanwhile, there will be goals if they can find the right combination around new skipper Max Kruse. All being well, this will be their best season for some time.

FC Augsburg

Last season: 12th

Manager: Manuel Baum

Pre-season friendlies: SC Austria Lustenau (1-1 D), Würzburger Kickers (2-0 W), Middlesbrough (2-1 W), Sportclub Olching (3-0 W), Borussia Mönchengladbach (2-1 L), Newcastle United (1-0 W), Athletic Club (1-0 L)

DFB-Pokal First Round: 2-1 win vs TSV Steinbach Haiger

Opening game: Away at Düsseldorf (25 August)

Transfers in: Schieber (Hertha), André Hahn (Hamburger SV), Felix Götze (Bayern Munich), Fredrik Jensen (FC Twente)

Transfers out: Ioannis Gelios (FC Hansa Rostock), Gojko Ka?ar (Anorthosis Famagusta), Marwin Hitz (Dortmund), Moritz Leitner (Norwich City), Daniel Opare (Antwerp), Marcel Heller (SV Darmstadt 98), Takashi Usami (Düsseldorf, loan), Tim Rieder (Darmstadt, loan), Shawn Parker (SpVgg Greuther Fürth)

Augsburg seem perennial pre-season contenders to go down, but it’s been a while since they’ve been in a genuine relegation dog-fight. Last year was little different, and if they had won more than two games in their last 13 games, they would have ended up a lot higher in the table than they eventually did.

Losing Hitz is of course a blow, leaving Andreas Luthe and Fabian Giefer to battle it out over who plays in goal, but much will be unchanged in front of them this season. Philipp Max is one of the most dangerous players in the league, despite being a left-back, and will have a point to prove having been snubbed by Joachim Löw so far. Further forward, Alfreð Finnbogason will hope to add to his tally of goals last season, despite currently being injured. He’ll have plenty of support too, especially with Hahn returning to his spiritual home.

There is little cause to believe that Augsburg will struggle this season, and if some of the bigger clubs struggle there could even launch another challenge for European football, but mid-table seems to be the most likely destination once again for Baum’s men.

Hannover 96

Last season: 13th

Manager: André Breitenreiter

Pre-season friendlies: Eiderstedt-Auswahl (14-0 W), SV Ramlingen-Ehlershausen (7-0 W), TSV Havelse (4-0), FSV Wacker 90 Nordhausen (2-0 W), PEC Zwolle (3-1 W), Wolfsberger AC (3-2 L), Udinese (5-1 W), Udinese (2-1 W), Athletic Club (2-0 W)

DFB-Pokal First Round: 6-0 win vs Karlsruher SC

Opening game: Away at Bremen (25 August)

Transfers in: Josip Elez (HNK Rijeka), Leo Weinkauf (Bayern II), Takuma Asano (Arsenal, loan), Kevin Wimmer (Stoke City, loan), Genki Haraguchi (Hertha), Walace (Hamburg), Bobby Wood (Hamburg, loan)

Transfers out: Elias Huth (1. FC Kaiserslautern), Felix Klaus (Wolfsburg), Salif Sané (Schalke 04), Charlison Benschop (FC Ingolstadt 04), Kenan Karaman (Düsseldorf), Harnik (Bremen), Sebastian Maier (VfL Bochum), Florian Hübner (1. FC Union Berlin), Manuel Schmiedebach (Union Berlin, loan), Jonathas (Corinthians, loan)

Making their return to the Bundesliga after a year away, a strong start last season gave Hannover the credit in the bank they needed to avoid any serious concerns over possible relegation. Their strong home form helped as way but an unremarkable squad did struggle at times, including a five-game losing streak in the early spring.

Klaus, Sané and Harnik are all big loses, and a lot of their new faces all struggled with their old clubs last season, including the Hamburg duo of Walace and Wood, plus Stoke’s Wimmer, with all three suffering relegation with their clubs. They have kept last season’s top scorer Niclas Füllkrug though, despite strong interest from Gladbach, with speculation that he’s on the verge of signing a new deal.

Any sort of drop off from last season will see Hannover fighting to avoid a return to the 2. Bundesliga, meaning Breitenreiter will face a big test of his coaching skills to get the best out his side. Another 15 goals from Füllkrug would serve them well and they will hope young talents like Ihlas Bebou can take off as well.

1. FSV Mainz 05

Last season: 14th

Manager: Sandro Schwarz

Pre-season friendlies: DJK SV Phönix Schifferstadt (12-0 W), Rhein-Nahe Auswahl (10-0 W), VfB Ginsheim (5-1 W), KFC Uerdingen 05 (2-1 W), Royal Charleroi Sporting Club (2-0 W), Köln (5-3 L), West Ham United (1-1, lost on penalties), Athletic Club (0-0, won on penalties), Fiorentina (0-0, lost on penalties), Celta de Vigo (2-1 W)

DFB-Pokal First Round: 3-1 win vs Aue

Opening game: Home to VfB Stuttgart (26 August)

Transfers in: Phillipp Mwene (Kaiserslautern), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Olympique Lyonnais), Pierre Kunde (Atlético Madrid), Moussa Niakhaté (FC Metz), Aarón Martin (Espanyol, loan)

Transfers out: Jonas Lössl (Huddersfield), Suat Serdar (Schalke), Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion), Marin Sverko (Karlsruhe, loan), Abdou Diallo (Dortmund), Kenan Kodro (FC Copenhagen), Nigel de Jong (Al Ahli SC), Yoshinori Muto (Newcastle), Aaron Seydel (Holstein Kiel, loan)

Mainz were perhaps fortunate that there were worse teams than them in the league last season. They spent most of the Rückrunde in the play-off spot, and couldn’t string two wins together until the matchdays 32 and 33, although those wins over RB Leipzig and Dortmund were enough to keep them up, although they finished with their worst points tally since they went down under Jürgen Klopp in 2007.

Nevertheless, they didn’t panic into sacking Schwarz and they clearly thing enough of him to give him a second crack. It won’t be any easier though. Serdar, Balogun and Muto will all be missed, whilst there are several injury concerns already. They will be hoping their new players will take off, although Niakhaté couldn’t have had a worst start, getting sent off in three minutes in the cup against Aue.

Alexandru Maxim had one of his better days in that game, scoring twice, and a good season from the Romanian will help their cause. 20-year-old Ridle Baku will be one to watch after he burst onto the scene late last season, scoring twice in his first three league games for the club. It will be tough for him, and the other youngsters, to thrive if Mainz struggle though.

SC Freiburg

Last season: 15th

Manager: Christian Streich

Pre-season friendlies: FC Waldkirch (15-0 W), SC Lahr (8-2 W), Kehler FV (7-1 W), TuS Efringen-Kirchen (14-2 W), FC Ravensburg (9-1 W), Swansea City (3-0 W), Regio-Auswahl (2-1 W), RC Strasbourg Alsace (3-2 L), Real Sociedad (1-1 D)

DFB-Pokal First Round: 5-3 win on penalties (after 2-2 draw AET) vs Energie Cottbus

Opening game: Home to Eintracht Frankfurt (25 August)

Transfers in: Mark Flekken (Duisburg), Dominique Heintz (Köln), Luca Waldschmidt (Hamburg), Philipp Lienhart (Real Madrid), Gondorf (Bremen), Brandon Borrello (Kaiserslautern)

Transfers out: Julian Schuster (retired), Marc Oliver Kempf (Stuttgart), Georg Nierdermeier (Melbourne Victory), Fabian Schleusener (SV Sandhausen, loan), Mats Møller Dæhli (FC St. Pauli), Rafal Gikiewicz (Union Berlin), Jonas Fohrenbach (SSV Jahn Regensburg¸ loan), Aleksandar Ignjovski (1. FC Magdeburg), Mohamed Dräger (SC Paderborn 07, loan), Karim Guédé (Sandhausen), Lucas Hufnagel (SpVgg Unterhaching), Vincent Sierro (FC St. Gallen, loan), Patric Klandt (Nürnberg), Jonas Meffert (Kiel), Caglar Söyüncü (Leicester City)

After surprisingly qualifying for Europe in their first season back in the Bundesliga, last season was always going to see a drop-off, especially after losing several key players. In the end they did well to stay up, finishing just above the relegation play-off place, with the goals of Nils Petersen crucial for maintaining their Bundesliga status.

There was never any question of replacing Streich, a cult favourite and the longest-serving coach in the league. It is easy to see last season as a hangover from the one before, and with some canny new recruits brought in over the summer to freshen up the team, they will be confident of being closer to mid-table security this time around.

To do so though, they have to tighten up at the back, and handle the departures of Kempf and Söyüncü at the same time. They cannot depend entirely on the goals of Petersen, with Waldschmidt, Janik Haberer and the fit-again Florian Niederlechner needed to take their share of the responsibility. If they fail in those key goals, as well as rectifying their awful away form, they could very easily drop out of the league again.

VfL Wolfsburg

Last season: 16th (won play-off)

Manager: Bruno Labbadia

Pre-season friendlies: Veltins-Auswahl (8-1 W), KSV Baunatal (7-0 W), Lupo Martini Wolfsburg (3-0 W), Norwich (1-1 D), Lyon (2-1 L), AFC Ajax (3-0 W), Napoli (3-1 W)

DFB-Pokal First Round: 1-0 win vs SV Elversberg

Opening game: Home to Schalke (25 August)

Transfers in: Marcel Tisserand (Ingolstadt), Klaus (Hannover), Pavao Pervan (LASK Linz), Wout Weghorst (AZ Alkmaar), Daniel Ginczek (Stuttgart), Jérôme Roussillon (HSC Montpellier)

Transfers out: Max Grün (released), Daniel Didavi (Stuttgart), Landry Dimata (RSC Anderlecht, loan), Victor Osimhen (Charleroi, loan)

With Hamburg out of the way, Wolfsburg are in prime position to become the league’s biggest perpetual crisis club. It is still only three years since they finished second and won the DFB-Pokal, two since pushing Real Madrid all the way in an UEFA Champions League quarter-final, but they finished the last campaign facing a play-off for their Bundesliga survival for a second year in a row.

Labbadia guided them to victory against Kiel, but beforehand he hadn’t been much more effective than Andries Jonker or Martin Schmidt before him. Above him, Jörg Schmadtke and club legend Marcel Schäfer have been installed in administrative roles, and between the three of them it will be interesting to see if things will be any different this year.

Excluding Tiseerand, who are already been on loan, Ginczek is the only new signing that isn’t an unknown quantity in German football, and they will be hoping he will give them the goalscorer they so desperately lacked last season, even before Mario Gómez left, despite his injury problems and modest recent record. Others, most significantly Maximilian Arnold, will know more is expected of them as well. Will they avoid the bottom three this year? Possibly, but not many are convinced.

Fortuna Düsseldorf

Last season: 1st (2. Bundesliga)

Manager: Friedhelm Funkel

Pre-season friendlies: Sportfreunde Eisbachtal (9-1 W), VfB Wissen (10-0 W), TSV Meerbusch (9-0 W), FC Wegberg-Beeck (5-0 W), Watford (3-1 L), Al-Hilal (2-0 W), Fiorentina (1-1 D), FC Remscheid (8-0 W), NEC (3-0 W), VfL Benrath 06 (13-0 W)

DFB-Pokal First Round: 5-0 win vs TuS Rot-Weiss Koblenz

Opening game: Home to Augsburg (25 August)

Transfers in: Benito Raman (Standard Liège), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Jean Zimmer (Stuttgart), Karaman (Hannover), Diego Contento (Girondins de Bordeaux), Kevin Stöger (Bochum), Aymen Barkok (Frankfurt, loan), Marvin Ducksch (St. Pauli), Davor Lovren (Dinamo Zagreb II), Matthias Zimmermann (Stuttgart), Dodi Lukebaki (Watford, loan), Takashi Usami (Augsburg, loan)

Transfers out: Kemal Rüzgar (Altinordu), Jerome Kiesewetter (released), Julian Schauerte (KAS Eupen), Axel Bellinghausen (retired), Lukas Schmitz (Wolfsberger AC), Marlon Ritter (Paderborn), Emmanuel Iyoha (Aue, loan), Justin Toshiki Kinjo (Thespakusatsu Gunma)

Not many people were tipping Düsseldorf for promotion last season but Funkel and his team got the balance right as, along with fellow Bundesliga newcomers Nürnberg, they proved to be one of the best and most consistent teams in the league to return to the top flight after five years away. They won the second-tier title in dramatic fashion though, beating Der Club in the final day showing with a stoppage time goal from Kaan Ayhan.

It is little secret that they are operating with one of the smallest budgets in the league but they have strengthened their side smartly. Raman, Zimmer and Lovren have now signed permanently after loan spells last year, whilst Usami is back for another. They have signed some of the best performers in the 2. Liga last year in Stöger and Ducksch, the league’s top scorer whilst on loan with Kiel. Lukebaki looks a promising performer for them as well.

Do they have enough to survive though? They certainly have flair, and a strong team spirit, and often the latter can be enough. Most sides who survive in their first season in the Bundesliga are those that bounced back within a year or two, and it will be a big step up for side without huge amounts of Bundesliga experience. Düsseldorf look as likely as anyone to go down, but they have the talent to avoid that fate.

1. FC Nürnberg

Last season: 2nd (2. Bundesliga)

Manager: Michael Köllner

Pre-season friendlies: FSV Erlangen-Bruck (5-2 W), SV Seligenporten (3-0 W), Halle (2-1 L), Regionalauswahl (4-0 W), Würzburg (4-0 W), TSV 1860 Rosenheim (4-1 W), Bologna (1-0 L), Real Valladolid (1-0 W)

DFB-Pokal First Round: 2-1 win vs SV Linx

Opening game: Away at Hertha (25 August)

Transfers in: Törles Knöll (Hamburg II), Kevin Goden (Köln U19), Christian Mathenia (Hamburg), Timothy Tillmann (Bayern II, loan), Bauer (Bremen, loan), Klandt (Freiburg), Yuya Kubo (KAA Gent, loan)

Transfers out: Möhwald (Bremen), Laszlo Sepsi (released), Miso Brecko (released), Enis Alushi (released), Thorsten Kirschbaum (Leverkusen)

Nürnberg are back in the Bundesliga, again. Germany’s ultimate yo-yo club are back after a four-year spell in the second tier for a ninth separate spell in the top flight. They suffered the usual blip after losing the Relegation play-off with Frankfurt two years ago, but after Köllner came into ensure they avoided going the other way, he proved to be the man to lead them back to the promise land as they finished second in his first full season in charge.

Unsurprisingly, many are tipping them to suffer a record ninth relegation, and there does seem to be doubt over whether they are equipped well enough to survive, especially as they are not financially strong enough to have been able to make any high-profile signings. Mathenia and Bauer do add some Bundesliga experience though, whilst Ond?ej Petrák is the sole survivor from the 2013-14 relegation season.

Most of the squad have been solid performers in the 2. Bundesliga, and if Enrico Valentini can prove as effective on the wing, Mikael Ishak can rediscover the scoring form he had before getting injured in February and the entire squad can prove to be greater than the sum of the parts, they’ll have every chance of staying up. It’s likely to be an almighty scrap, however.

Der Beitrag Bundesliga Season Preview Part One: Mid-tablers, strugglers and newcomers erschien zuerst auf XBET.TIPS.

Source: https://www.xbet.tips/bundesliga-season-preview-part-one-mid-tablers-strugglers-and-newcomers/

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junker-town · 5 years

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Cade Cunningham is made for modern basketball

Cade Cunningham is the next big, badass point guard coming for the NBA.

A gunslinger was forged under the beating Texas sun in the 1980s. Though only 6’ tall, Keith Cunningham had a rocket arm and a preternatural ability to read the field. As a senior at Arlington’s Sam Houston High, he was named District 5A-7 Offensive Player of the Year and emerged as one of the top quarterback recruits in the country. He held offers from Ken Hatfield’s powerful Arkansas program and from SMU, just as the latter was receiving its first sanctions in the legendary death penalty scandal.

Cunningham committed to Texas Tech instead. On the day he moved to Lubbock, he was at his mother’s house moving furniture when a freak accident changed his life. Cunningham lifted a bed that struck a rotating ceiling fan, causing it to fall and cut his arm. He never threw a football the same way again, leaving school after two years before pursuing a brief semi-pro career.

Nearly 30 years later, another Cunningham began to shine on the football field. While many young quarterbacks liked to make plays with their feet, Keith’s youngest son, Cade, grew up idolizing Tony Romo and preferred to do his damage from the pocket. Cade claims his junior high team never lost a game. He could have been on the same path as his father, but he felt a stronger pull from a different sport.

“I didn’t have as strong of a passion for football as my father did,” Cade Cunningham says. “Basketball brings an adrenaline rush that I didn’t get when I was playing football or anything else. I don’t know where I’d be without basketball.”

Cunningham stands now on the brink of basketball stardom. He blew up during the summer before his senior year, dominating Nike’s EYBL circuit on his way to the league MVP award. Cunningham powered USA Basketball to a gold medal against older competition in the FIBA U19 World Cup, and has positioned himself as a consensus top-three recruit in the class of 2020. He could be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Cunningham is a superstar for the modern game, following the NBA’s recent trend of oversized ball handlers. Though listed as a small forward for most of his prep career, Cunningham made the full-time transition to point guard after his sophomore year. For his size — 6’7, 230 pounds — he offers a rare combination of passing, handling, and the power to finish through contact. He may be the first player to ever be compared to Luka Doncic.

Born two weeks after 9/11 and still months away from his 18th birthday, Cunningham already carries himself like a pro. His star has risen so quickly that some recruiting analysts believe he’s the best NBA prospect in high school basketball.

“I haven’t scouted many prospects as polished, mature, and talented as Cade Cunningham,” says Jerry Meyer, director of scouting for 247 Sports. “He has that powerful, functional athleticism. It’s not going to win you a dunk contest but it is going to get you an and-one.”

Cunningham’s reputation has grown quickly, but the most amazing thing is he’s just getting started.

Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images

Cunningham was a star at Bowie High School in Arlington, Texas, from the moment he took the court, averaging 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists per game as a freshman on varsity. He believed even then that he could be one of the best players in his class in the country. His inner circle — led by his older brother Cannen, and cousin and trainer Ashton Bennings — devised a plan to make it happen.

The first step involved a daring position change.

“If you can turn into a point guard, just think about how much longer you’ll be able to play,” Cunningham recalls his brother telling him.

While Cunningham had risen into a national top-25 recruit by the end of his sophomore year at Bowie, his brother knew his future would be brighter if he could become a lead ball handler. In the summer heading into his junior year, Cannen held Cade back from the senior circuit on EYBL to develop him as a point guard on the U16 level. It didn’t take long before everyone around him realized he was a natural leading an offense.

Leaving Texas to transfer to Florida prep school Montverde Academy was Cunningham’s second step. Since head coach Kevin Boyle arrived from St. Patrick’s in New Jersey in 2011 following a successful run led by Kyrie Irving, no high school in the country has produced more elite basketball talent. Ben Simmons, D’Angelo Russell, and R.J. Barrett are some of the program’s most notable alums.

Montverde’s roster featured five other top-100 recruits including McDonald’s All-American Precious Achiwa (Memphis), guard Harlond Beverly (Miami), centers Balsa Koprivica (Florida State) and Omar Payne (Florida), and guard Moses Moody (uncommitted). Boyle gave Cunningham the keys to the offense and Cunningham noticed a sharp uptick in intensity when he arrived on campus.

“Even our light shoot-arounds always turn into a scrimmage,” Cunningham says. “And now it’s a super competitive scrimmage and it’s like another game. There are not a lot of easy buckets going around. You don’t get any time to relax. It’s always ‘Let’s get better.’”

Cunningham first hinted at his superstar turn when Montverde faced powerhouse Oak Hill Academy in Tampa in February. That meant a matchup with the top-ranked senior point guard in the country, Cole Anthony. Cunningham finished the game with 26 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds in a blowout victory.

“Cade was the best player on the floor in a game full of future pros,” Boyle told SB Nation. “We knew how good he was before that game. I think that’s when the rest of the world started to figure it out.”

The performance helped take Cunningham to the fringe of a top-10 ranking by the end his junior year. Then his spring and summer on the EYBL boosted him into an even greater stratosphere.

After averaging 12 points per game for Montverde, Cunningham’s inner circle developed a new plan to improve his scoring ability on the Nike circuit. Back in Texas, Cunningham and Bennings started two-a-day training to improve his biggest weakness: outside shooting. Bennings made Cunningham hold his follow through on his jumper and focus on getting shots up with great volume even when he was tired.

“Everyone knows he’s unselfish,” Bennings says. “We heard people say he passes too much. The last checkmark on the list was him scoring.”

Cunningham was a force of nature from the moment the EYBL season began. He was too strong to contain going to the rim, and improved as a three-point shooter. He also continued to impress with his reads as a passer. Cunningham ended the year with some of the best numbers the Nike circuit has seen since its inception: 25.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game on 37.5 percent shooting from deep. He also recorded the best box score plus-minus on the circuit.

When the AAU season was over, Cunningham received a phone call to try out for USA Basketball’s U19 World Cup run despite being two grade levels below the tournament’s oldest players. Not only did he make the team, he grew into one of its most dependable players in Greece. Cunningham helped the U.S. secure a gold medal by dropping 21 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists against Mali in the tournament’s final game.

“Confidence was the biggest thing,” Cunningham says of his breakout summer. “Montverde is as close as you get to college at the high school level. Going from that to AAU, it’s a little more free and a faster paced game. My confidence carried over and that’s when you started to see the 25-point games.”

Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Cunningham’s star has risen so dramatically that he could be the frontrunner to be the No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick if he entered a wide-open draft next year, not in 2021. He is just barely old enough to reclassify and play college ball in the fall, which would make him 2.5 months younger than Zion Williamson when he was drafted with the first overall pick. Cunningham admits that he’s had discussions with his family about the possibility, but he’s comfortable with another year of high school ball at Montverde.

“We talked about it for a little bit,” Cunningham says. “I think I’m in the right grade right now. I never reclassified growing up. If I do make it to the league, I do want to be able to stay in the league and be ready for it. Just taking this time to get better, spending another year with coach Boyle will help me a lot.”

Oklahoma State has become the consensus favorite to win his college recruitment after hiring Cannen as an assistant last month. While Cunningham notes his brother is the biggest influence in his life, he says that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going to commit to the Cowboys. Every blue blood in the country — from Duke to North Carolina to Kentucky — has also offered him.

“I’m not feeling any pressure,” Cunningham says of his college decision. “I’m still just happy to be where I’m at. just having all these elite schools and coaches coming after me.”

College will ultimately only be a small footnote in Cunningham’s story. Blessed with an immense blend of size, skill, and poise, this is a big guard who has all the tools to eventually grow into an NBA star. Perhaps the most impressive thing about him is his mindset.

“I want to be a Hall of Fame player, MVP, national champion,” Cunningham says. “But I want to be remembered more for what I’ve done off the court with the money I make with my social status and how I help people. If I can use that stage to impact other people’s lives, that’s all I can ask for.”

With so much polish, it’s easy to forget he is still just 17 years old. A generation after his father’s athletic dreams were dashed, Cade Cunningham is on the brink of fulfilling his own potential.

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junker-town · 7 years

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2021 NBA player rankings, Nos. 70-61: Jahlil Okafor still has one believer

Bet you didn’t expect to see Jahlil Okafor on a list of the 101 best players in 2021, but one of us still has hope.

When reading this ongoing projection of the 101 best NBA players in 2021, it’s important to remember that this is not a consensus list. Instead, 10 of us picked one after the other, fantasy draft style. That way, we could defend our picks while the rest of the crew argued for or against them.

That’s an important prelude to the surprising choice one of us made at No. 70. Let’s get to it.

70. Jahlil Okafor

CHRIS GREENBERG: We’re all understandably excited about the future of the 76ers. Jahlil Okafor is not the future of the 76ers. But that does not mean he has no future.

Okafor is only 21 years old right now. Sure, he hasn’t delivered on all — or any — of that silky post game promise he used in a lone season at Duke to earn all sorts of hardware and the No. 3 spot in the 2015 draft. His two seasons in Philly have been a disaster. But Philly has also been totally fine with being an outright dumpster fire for his entire time in town.

Maybe he’s not the next Tim Duncan. But what about the next Al Jefferson? That’s pretty useful. Like Jefferson, Okafor will benefit from a change of scenery, either by way of a trade soon or free agency. Needless to say, this pick will look much smarter after the Spurs pick him up on the cheap and Pop maximizes his offensive talents.

Everyone else’s reactions

KYLE NEUBECK, LIBERTY BALLERS: This is absolutely insane.

There is no evidence he can live up to the defensive responsibilities of a modern center, he's not a good enough rebounder to compensate for that issue, and his offensive strengths are increasingly useless with the way teams play. Maybe going vegan magically changes all those things, but I just don't see it right now.

TOM ZILLER: Chris, is this a cry for help?

CHRIS GREENBERG. Not help, necessarily. Just attention.

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: Chris, I’m ordering you lunch for tomorrow. You must have been hungry making this pick.

CHRIS GREENBERG: Lunch would be great.

MIKE PRADA: Feels odd to say this about a 21-year-old, but the game has passed Okafor by. You just can’t get away with that many deficiencies for your big man.

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69. Frank Ntilikina

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: You lost your mind if you thought I wasn’t going to take at least one Knick.

In all seriousness, though, Frank Ntilikina isn’t flashy. He’s not going to break ankles or wow crowds nightly. But he’s going to do two things: Play defense and play smart basketball. And if the Knicks are winning basketball games in four years, stability at the point guard position will play a major part in it.

Everyone else’s reactions

MIKE PRADA: Ntilikina will be 22 in four years. How many good 22-year-old point guards are playing today? Spoiler alert: not many.

TIM CATO: I’m concerned Ntilikina won’t even be starting in four years.

WHITNEY MEDWORTH: The Knicks spelled his name wrong on his first practice jersey. Save all of these potentially great players from the Knicks please.

CHRIS GREENBERG: So ... you’re saying he is a potentially great player?!?!

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: I STAND BY THIS PICK DAMMIT.

JOE FLYNN, POSTING AND TOASTING: In a league of freaks and unicorns, it's hard to place a 6'6’’ point guard with a 7-foot reach. If Ntilikina can stick at point guard, this ranking could end up extremely low given the way he already defends.

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68. Jusuf Nurkic

WHITNEY MEDWORTH: Nurkic will thrive in Portland alongside Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. He’s the perfect big man to fit with that team. They’ll bring out the best in Nurkic and he’ll be averaging a double-double at 26. He’ll also have the 2018 NBA’s Most Improved Player Award on his shelf at home.

Everyone else’s reactions

TOM ZILLER: If you need the perfect situation to be a passable NBA player, I hold little faith for your long-term future.

WHITNEY MEDWORTH: Situations and environment matter!

MATT ELLENTUCK: This is pretty high for a guy most thought was trash except for like the last three months of the season. Recency bias, or is Whitney on to something here?

MIKE PRADA: Gonna need to see a little more than a couple good months considering the way he sulked out of Denver.

DAVE DECKARD, BLAZERS EDGE: Teammates, health, and conditioning will determine whether he becomes a potent weapon or a passing curiosity.

TIM CATO: The only thing that could prevent Nurkic from being a top-100 player in four years is if he gives up basketball to pursue the family business as a Bosnian policeman like his dad.

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67. Jrue Holiday

TIM CATO: I mean, this all comes down to health. But Holiday’s at least a top-70 player right now, and there’s no reason why a 31-year-old Holiday won’t be around the same unless he just simply can’t stay healthy. Which is a real possibility, given his track record so far!

Everyone else’s reactions

OLEH KOSEL, THE BIRD WRITES: With NBA mileage not being an encumbrance, Holiday is primed for success despite being on the wrong side of 30. If he develops a confident, deadly three-point shot, a ranking of 67 is going to be far too low.

Yes, I enjoy living out on this little ledge.

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: In four years, Jrue will still be a physical defender at the point guard, a solid shooter and a game-managing point guard. If he can stay healthy, he should still be a top-70 player.

MIKE PRADA: I love Holiday’s game, but I’m scared he looked so off once DeMarcus Cousins arrived. Then again, an adjustment period is to be expected and who knows how much longer Cousins is in New Orleans anyway.

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66. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

KOFIE YEBOAH: The Pistons fan in me misses KCP. I don’t know what team he’ll be on in four years, but he could thrive depending on his new destination. He’ll be in his prime, so that’s a plus.

Everyone else’s reactions

MATT ELLENTUCK: Can KCP do anything else besides shoot? Can he even shoot well enough to just be a guy who can shoot? I don’t think he’s settled the many questions he came in with four years ago.

TOM ZILLER: He can defend, and the shooting is a question mark. I think he’ll settle in as a plus two guard somewhere. I just don’t know if that’s worthy of a top-75 player.

MIKE PRADA: I want him to be good and all the parts suggest he should be good, but will the full package ever come together?

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: I think it depends on where KCP is playing in four years. I agree with Ziller, but I’d like to think he’ll develop offensively by 2021.

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65. R.J. Barrett

MIKE PRADA: My Limited Upside podcast cohort Ben Epstein has spent the last few days raving about this guy, so consider this a show of faith in Ben’s ability to evaluate talent. Ricky seems to like him too, which is good enough for me.

More interesting question: will R.J. be the best Canadian player in the world in four years, or will it be that other guy in Minnesota? (Foreshadowing!).

Everyone else’s reactions

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: Let the high school picks begin.

RICKY O’DONNELL: Easily could have been the first high school player taken. Barrett might end being what everyone thought Wiggins would be.

WHITNEY MEDWORTH: I like this pick and wish I would’ve made it myself. Every Canadian I know is bonkers over this kid. He led Team Canada to a shocking win over Team USA in the U19 division in July with 38 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. Great pick.

TIM CATO: It’ll be neither when the Anthony Bennett comeback happens.

TOM ZILLER: Prada’s talking about Andrew Nicholson, right?

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64. Clint Capela

MATT ELLENTUCK: Clint Capela was extremely productive in Year 3 with the Rockets as a clean-up man with a rapidly developing defensive game. He’s just 22 years old now, and his job will become that much easier with Chris Paul coming into town alongside James Harden. I have a feeling this potential “Big 3” will stay together for some time.

Everyone else’s reactions

TOM ZILLER: This is a pretty good pick, though I’m not sure he’s irreplaceable for the Rockets if that makes sense.

RICKY O’DONNELL: It feels like the league is trending toward players with ball skills at all five positions. Capela is good at what he does, but he’s still fairly limited offensively.

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: Capela might be a backup’s backup somewhere in four years.

MIKE PRADA: Terrific pick and I think there will still be a space for him in the league. I dunno what Kristian is talking about here.

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63. Jamal Murray

RICKY O’DONNELL: Murray can really shoot the ball and I think he has some sneaky potential to handle point guard duties on offense, too. He might never be a good defender, but No. 63 feels right for a player with his skill level.

Everyone else’s reactions

TOM ZILLER: It’s so disappointing that he didn’t put up numbers last season, because he’s the type of fun player everyone could have gotten behind for an insurgent Rookie of the Year campaign.

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: This is a good pick. I like Jamal Murray and he’s an interesting piece to a young mosh pit of talent in Denver. He should be the starter in four years, if not way sooner.

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62. John Collins

ZITO MADU: Last year, Rick Pitino described John Collins as a “terrific basketball player, the best post player in our league by far, if not the country.” He put on a offensive highlight show in summer league, but it’s not just that he can dunk. He’s generally active, which leads to initial and second chance points for him and his teammates.

Everyone else’s reactions

JEFF SIEGEL, PEACHTREE HOOPS: The Hawks are very excited about how Collins can develop as an ultra-athletic power forward in an era that demands such athleticism from that position. But with zero minutes of NBA action to his name, it's impossible to tell if he'll be in the top 25 four years from now or off the list altogether.

MATT ELLENTUCK: Collins could be a solid clean-up guy in the league later down the line, but a top-65 player in four years? Nah.

TOM ZILLER: I totally forgot who drafted Collins, and I’m honestly not interested enough to look it up. That’s how much I hate this pick.

MIKE PRADA: You just put him here because of that one Summer League dunk, didn’t you?

WHITNEY MEDWORTH: To be fair, it was a pretty great dunk.

JOHN COLLINS WE ARE NOT WORTHY!!! http://pic.twitter.com/3urJblnWfo

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) July 12, 2017

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: POSTER MACHINE.

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61. Aaron Gordon

TOM ZILLER: Someday, Aaron Gordon’s coaches will figure out how to use Aaron Gordon. Here’s hoping it comes before 2021.

Everyone else’s reactions

CORY HUTSON, ORLANDO PINSTRIPED POST: Sixty-one feels like an appropriate median outcome, but Gordon could very well land far ahead or far short of that rank.

RICKY O’DONNELL: I still believe. Playing Aaron Gordon at the three last season was a crime against humanity. Get this man in a Draymond role!

KRISTIAN WINFIELD: Aaron Gordon will be better than Blake Griffin in four years. Blake Griffin has not been picked yet. Y’all are tripping.

MIKE PRADA: It’s the year 2020. Magic coach Randy Wittman announces his intention to play Gordon at small forward, with Jonathan Isaac at power forward and Nikola Vucevic at center. Gordon shoots 30 percent from three and looks lost until Orlando salary-dumps Vucevic at the deadline. Gordon then shifts to the 4, intrigues next to Isaac at the 5, and we get excited again.

Then, the Magic sign Jahlil Okafor in free agency. Wittman announces his intention to play Gordon at small forward, with Jonathan Isaac at power forward. Gordon shoots 30 percent from three ...

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INTRO | FULL LIST | TOP 100 OF 2017 | HOW WE DID IN 2013 | SNUBS | 101-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1 | THE CASES FOR NO. 1

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