Galen Harkness • October 28, 2023
Elevate Your Game: 10 Essential Tips for Aspiring Basketball Players
Basketball is a game of skill, strategy, and passion.
**Elevate Your Game: 10 Essential Tips for Aspiring Basketball Players**
Basketball is a game of skill, strategy, and passion. Whether you're just picking up a basketball for the first time or have been playing for years, there's always room for improvement. "Elevate Your Game" is a mantra that encourages players to reach new heights in their performance, both on and off the court. Here are ten essential tips for young players in the 6th to 12th grades to truly elevate their game:
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**1. Master the Fundamentals**
Before you can execute complex plays and strategies, you need to have a solid grasp of the basics. Prioritize mastering fundamental skills like shooting, dribbling, and passing. Remember, even the greatest players continually practice the basics.
**2. Prioritize Conditioning**
Basketball is a high-intensity sport that requires stamina. Engage in regular cardiovascular workouts to improve your endurance. This ensures that you maintain energy and agility throughout the game.
**3. Embrace Strength Training**
Strength isn't just for power forwards and centers. All players benefit from a strong core and legs. Incorporate exercises like squats, lunges, and push-ups into your routine to build muscle and enhance your game's physical aspect.
**4. Develop Mental Toughness**
Basketball is as much about mental fortitude as it is about physical prowess. Stay positive, learn from your mistakes, and never let setbacks deter your spirit.
**5. Teamwork Makes the Dream Work**
Individual skills are essential, but basketball is a team sport. Emphasize communication, trust, and collaboration with your teammates. Remember, a well-coordinated team often outperforms a group of individual stars.
**6. Practice, Practice, Practice**
The old adage is true: practice makes perfect. Dedicate time each day to work on different aspects of your game. Whether it's free throws or defensive drills, consistent practice is the key to improvement.
**7. Challenge Yourself**
One of the fastest ways to improve is to play against those better than you. Seek out opportunities to play against more experienced players to push your boundaries and adapt to various playing styles.
**8. Study the Pros**
Take time to watch professional basketball games. Analyze the strategies, plays, and techniques of top players. This not only provides entertainment but also valuable lessons.
**9. Consider a Coach or Mentor**
Personalized feedback is invaluable. A coach or mentor can provide insights into your strengths and weaknesses, offering tailored advice on areas of improvement.
**10. Fuel Your Body**
Proper nutrition and hydration play a crucial role in your performance. Ensure you're eating a balanced diet and staying hydrated to aid recovery and optimize performance.
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In conclusion, elevating your game in basketball requires dedication, hard work, and a passion for continuous learning. By following these ten tips and maintaining a growth mindset, you're well on your way to reaching new heights in your basketball journey. Stay committed, stay passionate, and always aim to elevate your game!
At EYG Basketball, we train players to play smarter and finish stronger. If you’re under 6'4", you can’t rely on size alone at the rim—you need solutions. Two of the most important: jumping up and jumping out. Why This Matters The game gives you different looks at the rim. Great players know how to read the help defense and choose the right finish. These two options help you avoid blocked shots, keep defenders guessing, and finish through or around contact. What’s the Difference? Jumping Up Happens closer to the rim Follows a bump, shot fake, or pump fake Uses power, balance, and verticality Creates space by initiating contact with the inside shoulder Effective when you’ve already earned position Jumping Out Happens earlier, before the shot blocker fully rotates Uses speed and quickness off one foot Avoids contact by getting the ball on the glass fast Useful when you don’t have time or space to absorb contact In the video examples, you’ll see both finishes. Watch how the offensive player creates space, reads the defenders, and chooses the finish that fits the moment. How to Train These Finishes Jumping Up Work on shot fakes, shoulder bumps, and strong two-foot finishes Focus on balance and lift Practice against contact or padded defenders Jumping Out Practice one-foot takeoffs Use floaters, scoop layups, and high glass finishes Rep it with a rotating help defender to train timing What to Watch For How the offensive player creates space Where the help defense is The timing and angle of the finish Whether it’s a contact finish or an avoidance finish Final Thought from EYG We don’t teach generic moves. We teach game decisions. Knowing when to jump up or jump out is the difference between getting blocked and getting buckets. If you want to finish like a high-level guard, this skill set is non-negotiable.
Places for Basketball Players to Look—and Why 🎥 Clips of the Week What’s Happening: Three game clips show players making passes that lead to scores by: Looking In – Inside the paint to find cutters Kicking Out – To perimeter shooters Passing Up – The floor in transition Why It Matters: Great decision-makers scan all three zones—In, Out, & Up—to find the best option. This habit leads to smarter decisions, better shots, and more team success. Who Can Learn From It: Guards, wings, and any player who handles the ball. Learning to scan in these three directions keeps pressure on defenses and opens up opportunities. https://youtu.be/Ec1RWcIYnqw?si=NfmzLwPkWZ-KuanX Don’t just see the game. Scan it. 🛠️ How to Apply This Players: As you dribble or catch, train your eyes to scan: In – Cutters and post mismatches Out – Perimeter shooters and spacing Up – Rim and teammates in transition Build the habit. Clip it. Study it. Rep it. 👋 Final Note This one decision-making pattern—In, Out & Up—can shift how you play. It’s not flashy. It’s just smart basketball. Thanks for being here. Let’s keep learning. Let’s Play Smarter. Elevate Your Game.
Summer is the season where real growth happens. Summer is the season where real growth happens. For serious high school basketball players, this isn’t the time to coast. It’s the time to separate yourself. If you want to take your game to the next level, take a page from WNBA star Caitlin Clark’s offseason playbook. Here’s what she focused on—and how you can apply it this summer: 1. Get Stronger to Play Stronger The game only gets more physical at higher levels. Caitlin Clark used her offseason to build strength so she could handle contact, maintain her balance, and stay efficient even when tired. You can do the same: Bodyweight strength work like pushups, squats, lunges, and planks builds a powerful base. Core strength helps you finish through contact and protect the ball under pressure. Strong legs = better defense, more explosiveness, and more consistency in your shot. This summer, commit to strength training 2–3 days per week. 2. Recovery Is Part of Training Recovery is not just for pros—it’s what allows you to train hard again the next day. Clark’s offseason wasn’t just about grinding—it was about taking care of her body with sleep, nutrition, hydration, stretching, and downtime. What does recovery look like for you? Go to bed early. Drink water throughout the day. Take time to stretch, roll out, and cool down. Don’t train yourself into the ground—train to be consistent. Recovery helps you show up every day with energy and focus. 3. Work on Game-Specific Skills Clark didn’t just shoot 1,000 shots a day. She trained the shots she actually takes in games: pull-ups, deep threes, quick releases, contact finishes, tight handle under pressure. This is where most players fall short—they train skills in perfect settings instead of game situations. This summer: Add contact to finishing drills. Practice handling under pressure, not just cones. Get game-speed reps on your shot. Compete in 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 as much as you can. Your training should look like the game you want to play. 4. Put It All Together Clark’s offseason success wasn’t magic—it was a smart, consistent plan. She got stronger. She recovered with purpose. She trained her game with intensity. You can do the same. Strength builds your body. Recovery protects it. Skill work sharpens your game. This summer, train with a purpose—not just sweat, but skill. Final Thought: The offseason is where players are made. The ones who train smart, recover well, and stay consistent will come back in the fall stronger, sharper, and more confident. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to keep showing up and doing the work. Whenever you're ready, here are 3 ways EYG Basketball can help you this summer: Committed Skills Academy – Weekly high-level skills training for players who want consistent work on ball-handling, finishing, shooting, and playmaking. Summer Camps – Fun, challenging, and competitive camps in Superior, Northglenn, and Longmont. 1v1 to 3v3 play every day. Training Memberships – Serious about your game? Memberships are for players who want more. Train 2–3 times per week with a structured plan and coaching. Check out all our summer training options at www.eygbball.com