Galen Harkness • January 16, 2024
Unlocking Your Basketball Potential: A Guide for Players
Basketball is more than just a game; it's a journey of growth, teamwork, and self-improvement.
As a basketball player, you are at a crucial stage of your basketball journey. Whether you're aspiring to make the team, get more playing time, or improve your game, the path to success involves dedication, smart practice, and understanding the key concepts that make a great player. Here's a guide to help you excel in your basketball journey.
1. Become a Competitor
First and foremost, embrace the spirit of competition. Competitiveness is not just about wanting to win; it's about striving to be your best, pushing your limits, and constantly learning from every game and practice. How can you become more competitive?
- Set Personal Goals: Identify specific areas you want to improve in and set achievable goals. Whether it's improving your shooting accuracy, enhancing your defensive skills, or increasing your stamina, having clear objectives will give you a sense of direction.
- Embrace Challenges: Don't shy away from tough opponents or difficult situations. Use them as opportunities to learn and grow. Analyze your performance after each game, identify your weaknesses, and work on them.
2. Be Unselfish: The Power of Team Play
Basketball is a team sport, and unselfish play is crucial for team success. Being unselfish means looking for the best shot for the team, not just for yourself. It involves passing the ball to an open teammate, setting screens, and moving without the ball to create opportunities for others. Why is unselfish play important?
- It Creates a Stronger Team: When players work together and support each other, the team becomes more cohesive and effective.
- Increases Your Value as a Player: Coaches notice players who make their teammates better. Being unselfish can increase your playing time and make you an indispensable part of the team.
3. One Goal: Team Success
Remember, everyone on your team has the same goal: to win and improve together. When you focus on the team's success, your personal achievements will naturally follow. How to align with this goal?
- Communicate with Your Teammates: Talk on the court, encourage each other, and discuss strategies. Good communication builds trust and understanding among teammates.
- Be a Team Player: Celebrate your teammates' successes, offer constructive feedback, and be open to receiving feedback. A strong team is built on mutual respect and support.
4. Mastering Perimeter Gravity
Perimeter gravity refers to a player's ability to stretch the defense by being a threat from the outside. Players who can shoot well from the perimeter create space for their teammates to operate. How can you develop perimeter gravity?
- Practice Your Shooting: Spend time working on your three-point shooting and mid-range jumpers. Consistency is key.
- Understand Spacing: Learn to position yourself on the court to maximize the space for your teammates. This involves moving without the ball and being aware of where you are in relation to others.
5. The Ball Sticks Less: Improve Ball Movement
Good ball movement is essential for a dynamic offense. When the ball sticks less, it means the ball is constantly moving, making it harder for the defense to set up and predict plays. To improve ball movement:
- Work on Your Passing: Develop both your accuracy and the ability to anticipate where your teammates will be.
- Move Without the Ball: Constant movement off the ball creates passing lanes and scoring opportunities.
6. Understanding Shot Selection
Knowing which shots to take and which to avoid is crucial.
- Learn Your Team's Playbook: Familiarize yourself with the offensive strategies and the types of shots your coach wants the team to take. This understanding helps in making smart decisions during the game.
- Analyze Your Strengths and Weaknesses: Be honest about your shooting abilities. Focus on taking shots that you are confident in making, while also working to improve your weaker areas.
7. Playing Well for Each Other
The ultimate goal is to play in a way that benefits the entire team. This means recognizing when to take charge and when to support your teammates. Playing well for each other involves:
- Being Aware of Your Teammates: Keep an eye on their positions and movements. A well-timed pass or screen can be just as valuable as scoring.
- Adapting to Game Situations: Be flexible and ready to adjust your role based on the needs of the team during the game.
Conclusion
Remember, basketball is a journey, and every practice, game, and season is an opportunity to grow as a player and a person. By focusing on these concepts, you'll not only increase your playing time but also contribute to your team's success. Stay dedicated, keep learning, and most importantly, enjoy the game!
By incorporating these actionable steps into your routine, you can make significant strides in your basketball journey. Whether it's through becoming a more competitive and unselfish player, understanding the importance of perimeter gravity and shot selection, or fostering a team-first mentality, each aspect plays a critical role in enhancing your game and contributing to your team's success. Stay focused, work hard, and embrace the journey of becoming a better basketball player.
When Players are Ready there are 3 ways EYG can help:
1. Training
2. Camps
3. Newsletter
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