Galen Harkness • May 5, 2025
How to Get Lucky in Basketball
Every player wants to be the one who gets the break.
Every player wants to be the one who gets the break.
More playing time.
More points.
More attention from coaches.
More wins.
And when it happens, people say, “That kid got lucky.”
But here’s the truth no one talks about:
Luck is rarely random.
Most of the time, it’s math.
What Looks Like Luck...
…is really just a byproduct of effort.
The player who “got lucky” and made the team?
They were in the gym three days a week for months.
The girl who “got lucky” and hit the game-winner?
She practiced that same shot hundreds of times alone in the gym.
The kid who “got lucky” and got noticed by a scout?
He showed up early, stayed late, and played hard every game.
The players who look lucky are usually just the ones who put in more reps.
Luck = Opportunities × Reps
The more you train, the more games you play, the more people you meet…
…the more chances you create to be in the right place at the right time.
If you want to get luckier in basketball, you don’t need to hope.
You need to take more shots—on and off the court.
5 Ways to Create Your Own Basketball Luck
1. Train More
Put in consistent, focused work.
Ball-handling. Shooting. Footwork. Finishing.
Do it for months. Do it when no one is watching.
Reps compound.
2. Play More
Pickup. Open gym. 1v1. 3v3.
Every possession teaches you something.
Playing more = learning faster.
3. Watch More Film
Study yourself. Study pros.
Steal footwork. Learn how great players read the game.
Film is a cheat code. Use it.
4. Meet More People
Coaches. Trainers. Mentors.
Your next opportunity might come from someone who sees you working hard.
Character creates connection.
5. Help More Teammates
Set screens. Make the extra pass. Talk on defense.
Be the player that makes others better.
Coaches never forget those players.
The Compound Effect of Showing Up
Every time you show up…
…while others skip workouts,
…while others quit early,
…while others wait to be noticed…
You increase your chances.
You’re stacking the math in your favor.
Effort. Reps. Patience. That’s the formula.
The Bottom Line
Most “lucky” players just took more shots.
They trained more.
They played more.
They showed up longer.
They failed more.
And because of that, opportunities found them.
So train. Compete. Connect. Serve.
Not once. Not for a week. But over and over again.
Because luck?
It’s just a matter of showing up more often than everyone else.
Start stacking your reps.
Start creating your own luck.
Start today.
Whenever you are ready, there a 3 ways EYG Basketball can help you:
1. Committed Skills Academy:
This program is the most affordable, flexible, and valueable for players to join. Players can train up to 2 times per week for extra work on their ballhandling, shooting, finishing, and playmaking. These 90 minute workouts are focused on helping players improve and elevate their individual skills.
2. EYG Basketball Camps: EYG offers basketball camps all summer long at the Blue Sport Stable, Northglenn Recreation center, and Ward Hardwood Hoops Facility in Longmont. Check out the home page with a full listing of Summer 2025 camps and academies. For recreational to competitive basketball players.
3. Training Memberships. These require a minimum of 3 month commitment and are for hardworking, dedicated, and serious basketball players wanting to put in extra work. These will challenge and push basketball players to get out of their comfort zone to reach new heights as a player. Players are wanting to put in extra work. They are wanting to be coached. They are good players, yet humble enough to know they need to keep getting better.
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