Galen Harkness • June 9, 2025
Jumping Up vs. Jumping Out: Two Finishes Every Undersized Player Needs
At EYG Basketball, we train players to play smarter and finish stronger.
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.
Few actually decide to do what it takes. Every Gym Has This Two types of players. You’ve seen it. You might even know which one you are. Side 1 — The Complainers They talk about: The refs Their playing time Missed shots Bad courts Coaches There’s always something. And to be fair… some of it is real. But none of it helps them get better. Side 2 — The Workers They’re different. They: Stay after Get extra shots Ask questions Listen to coaching Fix mistakes They don’t ignore problems. They attack them. Same Gym. Same Situation. Different results. That’s the part most players miss. You don’t need a better team. You don’t need a better coach. You don’t need perfect conditions. You need a better response. What This Looks Like Bad call? Complain… or sprint back. Missed shots? Blame it… or fix your feet and get reps tomorrow. Not playing much? Get frustrated… or earn trust in practice. Slippery court? Make excuses… or adjust and play stronger. Here’s The Truth Your future as a player is decided early. Not by talent. By how you respond. The Players Who Improve They walk into the gym already decided: “I’m going to figure this out.” So when things go wrong… They don’t look around. They go to work. The Players Who Stay The Same They walk in thinking: “This isn’t fair.” And every bad call… Every missed shot… Every tough moment… Just proves them right. That’s The Difference Same gym. Same opportunities. Different mindset. Different outcome. What We See At EYG The players who improve the most aren’t always the most talented. They’re the ones who: Take coaching Stay consistent Work when it’s hard Show up ready They pick the right side. Over and over again. The Question Next practice. Next game. Next workout. Which side are you on? Because that decision shows up in your results.
Every player compares. They compare stats. They compare teams. They compare offers. They compare playing time. They compare skill level. And most of the time… They compare at the worst possible moment. A player sees someone score 25. Another makes varsity early. Someone gets attention online. Someone gets recruited first. Suddenly it feels like you are behind. But here is the truth most players don’t want to hear. They are not ahead. They are just further along their path. Basketball development is not a race. It is a long process that compounds over time. Some players grow early. Some players grow later. Some players get opportunities early. Some players earn them through years of work. The scoreboard you see right now is only a snapshot. It does not predict who you will become. What actually determines your future is much simpler. Work. Skill is not given. Confidence is not given. Game performance is not given. They are built. Through training. Through repetition. Through failure. Through consistency. Through time. Too many players spend their energy watching others. The best players spend their energy building themselves. You cannot control another player’s timeline. You cannot control another player’s opportunity. But you can control: How often you train. How focused you are when you train. How you respond to mistakes. How consistent you stay. How long you are willing to commit to improvement. Most players want results. Few players are willing to live in the process long enough to earn them. Comparison steals joy. But more importantly, comparison steals focus. And when focus disappears, development stops. The players who improve the most are not always the most talented. They are the most consistent. They show up when others don’t. They work when others watch. They stay patient when others quit. So instead of asking: “Why are they ahead?” Ask: “What am I willing to do to improve?” Then go to work. If you are a player who is ready to train with purpose, EYG Basketball provides structured, focused training designed to help you improve the skills that matter most in real games. Learn more at: 👉 www.eygbball.com
Youth basketball players develop at different speeds. Learn why comparison slows growth and how focusing on your own development leads to long-term success.