Whoevr has my voodoo doll I woke up this morning with a strange feeling. It was as if someone had been messing with my energy. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but something felt off. As I got out of bed and made my way to the kitchen, I noticed a peculiar object lying on the floor. It was a voodoo doll, and it looked exactly like me. The resemblance was uncanny - from the curly hair to the distinctive birthmark on my left cheek.
“Definitely continue to work on shooting the ball,” said Houstan, who added that he expects to play for the Magic’s summer league team in July. “Working on a lot of movement 3s. That’s probably the biggest thing. Making reads when guys close out too hard or when they’re closing out short [and] lways continuing to get stronger and get my body right.”
Impact The rookie profiles as a three-and-D wing at the NBA level, and while there are some questions regarding his role, he can be a decent contributor off the bench if given enough minutes. Impact The rookie profiles as a three-and-D wing at the NBA level, and while there are some questions regarding his role, he can be a decent contributor off the bench if given enough minutes.
The resemblance was uncanny - from the curly hair to the distinctive birthmark on my left cheek. I couldn't believe my eyes. How did this voodoo doll end up in my house? And more importantly, who had it? I started to panic.
What Caleb Houstan brings to the Orlando Magic: ‘I can play with a lot of people’
As a 16-year-old sophomore at Montverde (Fla.) Academy, Caleb Houstan played alongside Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes, a future No. 1 pick and a future NBA rookie of the year.
As an 18-year-old college freshman, Houstan was starting in the Big Ten, facing players three and four years older in a conference known for its physical rigor.
As a 19-year-old rookie, Houstan will be leveling up again, trying to find his place in a league dominated by grown men. Like at Michigan, his transition to the NBA with the Orlando Magic may have some bumps. But for Houstan, being surrounded by talented players is nothing new.
“Being in different positions, playing with a lot of different people, I think it makes me more versatile,” Houstan said. “I can play with a lot of people, play in a lot of different systems with a lot of different roles.”
If Houstan, selected 32nd overall, didn’t have the hype that comes with being a top-10 national recruit, his freshman season at Michigan would look perfectly respectable. He averaged 10.1 points and shot 35.5 percent from 3-point range while starting all 34 games for a team that made the Sweet 16. Considering Houstan’s age and the fact that he reclassified from the Class of 2022, there was a lot to like about his game.
Clearly, though, Houstan wasn’t the kind of NBA-ready prospect destined to become a one-and-done lottery pick. When he decided to test the NBA Draft waters, there was thought that he might return to Michigan for another year of physical development. Along the way, something changed. Houstan declined an invitation to the NBA Combine, prompting speculation that he had received a draft promise. Houstan kept his intentions under wraps until the last possible moments, ultimately choosing to remain in the draft at the deadline for underclassmen to withdraw.
Because he’s been such a high-profile prospect for so long, Houstan enters the NBA with established expectations. Those expectations should be tempered, Michigan assistant coach Phil Martelli said, by a commitment to Houstan’s long-term development. Because he reclassified, Houstan is the equivalent of a high school senior. He’ll need an organization willing to invest in his growth without the pressure of producing right away.
“I don’t even think it’s the coaches, to be honest — I think it’s going to be the player development, the strength and conditioning people who are going to make or break Caleb,” Martelli said. “My anticipation would be that a year from now, we’re going to look at him as a completely different player.”
Houstan grew up in Mississauga, Ontario, and starred for the Canadian youth national team while attending high school in Florida at Montverde. He came to Michigan with a reputation as a lights-out shooter but dealt with some prolonged cold spells, including a 2-of-21 stretch from 3-point range in January. He seemed to be finding his groove with back-to-back 20-point games against Rutgers and Illinois in February but faded in the postseason, going scoreless in an NCAA Tournament victory against Tennessee and finishing with five points in a Sweet 16 loss to Villanova.
Despite an uneven freshman season, it’s easy to see why teams were intrigued by Houstan’s potential. He’s a 6-foot-8 wing who can shoot, the kind of prospect currently en vogue among NBA teams. He models his game after Klay Thompson, Khris Middleton and Jayson Tatum. If Houstan approaches that level of production as a pro, he’ll go down as a draft steal.
Drafting Houstan comes with no guarantees, however. He was overmatched at times in the Big Ten and will need to improve in every area to make an impact in the NBA. Mentally, he has the maturity to deal with whatever comes his way. The physical part will have to come with time.
“A year from now, with the right player development and right strength and conditioning, he’s going to be a different guy,” Martelli said.
(Photo: Rick Osentoski / USA Today)
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Impact Houstan picked up four fouls in just 15 minutes, which certainly limited his ability to be productive. The rookie forward's playing time is encouraging, but it appears that he still needs time to adjust to the NBA before he is truly productive.
Voodoo dolls are believed to hold a person's essence, allowing the holder to have control over their actions, emotions, and even their physical well-being. I had heard countless stories of people falling victim to these dark arts, and I didn't want to become the next target. My mind raced with possibilities. Could it be an ex-lover seeking revenge? Or perhaps a jealous colleague trying to sabotage my career? Whoever had my voodoo doll must have had a motive, and I needed to find out who it was before it was too late. I decided to seek help from a spiritual healer in the hopes of unraveling this eerie mystery. The healer reassured me that voodoo dolls could only do harm if the person holding them had ill intentions. She advised me to stay calm and focused, as panicking would only give my unknown enemy more power over me. Together, we performed a cleansing ritual to rid the voodoo doll of any negative energy. As the smoke from the incense filled the room, I could feel a sense of peace washing over me. The healer told me to be cautious and vigilant, but not to let fear consume me. In the days that followed, I became increasingly aware of my surroundings. I paid close attention to the people I interacted with, trying to decipher any hidden motives or strange behaviors. My mind became a web of suspicion, constantly questioning everyone's actions. Weeks turned into months, and still, I had no answers. The voodoo doll remained a haunting presence in my life, a constant reminder that someone out there had the power to manipulate my fate. I knew I couldn't let fear control me, but the uncertainty was eating away at my sanity. Eventually, I decided to let go of my obsession with finding the person behind the voodoo doll. I realized that constantly worrying would only bring negativity into my life. Instead, I focused on strengthening my own energy and protecting myself from any potential harm. As time went on, the voodoo doll lost its power over me. I learned to trust my instincts and surround myself with positive influences. Whether the person who had my voodoo doll was still out there or not, I had chosen to reclaim control over my own life. Today, the voodoo doll sits on a shelf in my home - a reminder of the darkness I once faced, but also a symbol of my resilience and inner strength. I may never know who had it or why, but I refuse to let it define me. I am the master of my own destiny, voodoo doll or not..
Reviews for "The Art of Voodoo Doll Retrieval: Reclaiming What's Mine"
1. Meghan - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Whoever has my voodoo doll." The story felt disjointed and lacked a clear direction. The characters were poorly developed and I found it hard to connect with or care about any of them. The writing style was also quite weak, with clunky dialogue and repetitive descriptions. Overall, it was a frustrating read and I wouldn't recommend it.
2. Jake - 1/5 - I couldn't finish "Whoever has my voodoo doll." The plot was convoluted and confusing, making it difficult to follow along. The pacing was all over the place, with long periods of nothing happening followed by rushed action scenes. The main character was extremely unlikable, and I couldn't understand their motivations or actions. The writing itself was filled with grammatical errors and awkward phrasing. I regret wasting my time on this book.
3. Emily - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Whoever has my voodoo doll," but unfortunately, it fell short. The story started off promising, but quickly became repetitive and predictable. The twists and turns were cliché and didn't offer anything new or exciting. The dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, and the interactions between the characters lacked depth. I felt disconnected from the story and found it hard to care about the outcome. Overall, it was a mediocre read that didn't live up to its potential.
4. Nathan - 3/5 - I found "Whoever has my voodoo doll" to be an average read at best. The concept had potential, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was inconsistent, with slow sections that dragged on and fast-paced moments that left me confused. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to invest in their stories. Additionally, the writing style occasionally felt clumsy, with awkward sentence structure and repetitive phrases. While it had its moments, overall, it was a forgettable book.
5. Sarah - 2/5 - "Whoever has my voodoo doll" was a disappointing read for me. The plot felt messy and unfocused, jumping from one storyline to another without clear direction. The climax lacked the intensity I was expecting, and the conclusion was underwhelming. The characters were shallow and lacked development, making it hard to form any emotional connection. The writing style was also unremarkable, with cliché descriptions and dialogue that felt forced. Overall, it was a lackluster book that failed to engage me.