Galen Harkness • January 9, 2026
The 3-Piece Puzzle to Getting Better at Basketball
Most players want to know how to get better at basketball.
The truth is simple—but often misunderstood.
Real basketball development isn’t one thing.
It’s three pieces working together.
Miss one, and progress slows.
Do all three, and improvement accelerates.
1. Basketball Training (Skill + Athletic Development)
Training is where basketball skills are built.
This includes intentional on-court work like:
- Ball handling
- Shooting
- Finishing
- Decision-making
But great players aren’t just skilled.
They’re athletic.
That’s why sports performance training matters:
- Balance
- Start-and-stop ability
- Agility
- Quickness
- Strength
Training is controlled.
Structured.
Purposeful.
This is where players prepare their bodies and skills for games.
2. Playing on a Team (School or Club Basketball)
Team basketball is where skills get tested.
School teams and club teams put players into real game environments:
- Pressure situations
- Game speed decisions
- Coaching and feedback
- Officials, fans, and competition
This is where players learn:
- How to apply skills under pressure
- How to respond to mistakes
- How to compete within a system
Games reveal strengths.
They also reveal weaknesses.
That feedback is essential for growth.
3. Pickup Basketball (Creativity + Competition)
Pickup basketball is where instincts and confidence grow.
Yes—pickup still matters.
Especially when players compete with:
- Older players
- Better players
Pickup helps players:
- Compete naturally
- Create and experiment
- Play without fear
No plays.
No whistles.
Just basketball.
And fun.
The Full Basketball Development Puzzle
No single piece works on its own.
- Training without games lacks context
- Games without training limit improvement
- Pickup without consistency stalls long-term growth
But together?
Basketball Training + Team Games + Pickup Basketball
That’s the formula.
That’s the puzzle.
Players who consistently do all three improve faster—and stay confident doing it.
When You’re Ready to Train Smarter
At EYG, we focus on purposeful basketball training
that transfers directly to games—so team basketball and pickup actually lead to improvement.
If you’re ready to put the full puzzle together, explore our camps and training programs at:
👉 www.eygbball.com
Smart training.
Real improvement.
Every session.
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Honest insight on what high school basketball players must improve to control games, build real skill, and develop with purpose—not hype.