Here is an example by a fellow Hoop Dreamer, Ime Udoka, of how to use a simple play to score - the “Give n Go”!  So many players these days want to OVER dribble and the “Give n Go” is an EASY way that you and your team can score without the ball being dribbled once!  Watch how Beno Udrih passes, swims (a move used to get open on a defender guarding you closely without the ball), then changes speed on his cut and takes advantage of Will Bynum (Detroit Pistons) going over the top of the screen.  This is what we call a “READ”, that both Ime and Beno made in order to execute the “Give n Go”.  I was just talking with our Varsity (High School ages) Class today about how difficult it is to guard someone who constantly and consistently moves without the ball.  So……if it’s not in your game, please add the “Give n Go” to your repertoire!!!

Big Sky Conference (College – D1)

Dominic Waters – 2nd Team All-Big Sky (Led Big Sky in Scoring – 20.9 and Led Big Sky in Assists – 5.1)

PIL (6A)

Trevor Ritchie – Wilson High School – PLAYER OF THE YEAR and 1st Team All-PIL

JD Esters – Lincoln High School – 1st Team All-PIL

Robert Lazenby Jr. – Wilson High School – 1st Team All-PIL

Metro League

Garrett Jackson – CO-PLAYER OF THE YEAR and 1st Team All-Metro

Stephen Holt – CO-PLAYER OF THE YEAR and 1st Team All-Metro

Tony Holton – 1st Team All-Metro

Jordan Akwenuke – 2nd Team All-Metro

Jordan Railey – 2nd Team All-Metro

Jalen Caoile – 3rd Team All-Metro

Landen Lucas – 3rd Team All-Metro

This is a video about Stephen “Potsi” Madison and how his transfer from Prairie High School in Vancouver, WA to Jefferson High School has went so far.  “Potsi” played on our I-5 Elite 17u AAU team for the last 2 years and also trains with Hoop Dreams Basketball!

“Why does he not box out?” ; “Why does she dribble after getting a rebound instead of giving the ball to the PG?” ; “Why doesn’t he get his hands up, when he knows that he is a shooter?” ; “Why doesn’t she slow down, she is totally out of control?”…….  These are just a few of the many questions that go through my head.  When I ask myself these questions it continues to validate the thought in my head is that “today’s player” needs to continue to greatly enhance their basketball IQs!  I had a coach tell me in the 8th grade that, “Basketball is 90% MENTAL and 10% physical!”  I greatly believe that theory and statement!!!  I think that if you are smart and tough that you can be a very successful player at most any level.  Now, if you add skill to the equation it makes you a pretty dangerous player! 

So…..how do you work on your Basketball IQ?  One way is to study very successful high school, college or NBA players.  1) Watch how they make decisions and choices on the floor.  2 ) How they use screens, set screens.  3) How they handle the ball with pressure.  4) How they pass the ball.  5) How they run the floor and move without the ball.  6) How they defend on the ball.  7)  How they defend off the ball.  8) How they communicate verbally and non-verbally on the court.  9) How they execute plays.  10) How they box out and rebound the ball. 

Just like you study in school to recieve good grades and enhance your education.  You have to study basketball and enhance your IQ to become a better player.  I tell players all the time, basketball is a game just like monopoly, checkers, and chess.  There are rules and a strategy to this game in order to win.  The players that understand the rules and strategy are usually the best players and know how to win basketball games!  Enhance your basketball IQ and become a better basketball player (example – Larry Bird was one of the smartest basketball players to play the game, period – watch the Larry Bird video)!!!

Larry Bird, rated the #1 shooter in NCAA HISTORY!  From time to time I’m going to post information about players from the past.  I believe that it is vital for any player to know the history of the game.  To know about the players that came before them and paved the way for basketball to be played the way that it is now!  Larry Bird is hands down one of the best players and best shooters to EVER PLAY THE GAME OF BASKETBALL!  In this video, he makes a comment, “I believe a shooter is a player that can shoot from 15 to 18 feet and make 60 t0 70 shots in a ROW!!!”  That is something to think about, for today’s players.  Where do you stand with that?  How many shots are you able to make in a row practicing?  How many in a row in a game situation?  How many shots do you shoot a day?

Also, Larry Bird was multi-faceted and versatile.  He could not only shoot, but rebound, defend and pass the ball!  He was a COMPLETE BASKETBALL PLAYER!!! For Larry Bird’s career he averaged – 24.3 pts, 10.0 rebs, and 6.3 assists.  Sounds a lot like Lebron James! lol! Only thing is that Larry didn’t possess the body, talent and athletic ability that Lebron possesses.  Larry Bird is someone that I would say plays the game of basketball purely and efficiently.  He got the most out of himself every time he stepped on the floor.  I have heard him say in numerous interviews that, he just wanted to be THE BEST POSSIBLE BASKETBALL PLAYER HE COULD BE, SO HE WORKED HIS HARDEST EVERYDAY!!!

Hubie Brown, Hall of Fame Coach, and someone that I respect a great deal in regards to basketball knowledge, talks about the 5 Commandments on the Defensive End of the floor!  One major point that he makes, and something that we teach at Hoop Dreams is to always push the ball away from the middle of the floor (reasons why? – 1) to keep away from the basket, 2)  it’s harder to score, 3) less plays can be made to the sideline and the baseline).  This is great information for anyone who is trying to become a better defender and overall basketball player!

Sam Cassell, one of the better point guards to play in the NBA, talks about the lost art of the MID-RANGE GAME.  He gives tips on how to create space and get your shot off against defenders.  Talks about players that he learned the mid-range game from by studying them.  Also, that touches on a point, make sure that you are studying other players (NBA/College/Top High School) to learn from.

Here is the “Mikan Drill”, named after George Mikan (NBA great who played for the Minneapolis Lakers).  This  is a GREAT drill that helps you to improve on your footwork and ability to finish lay-ups with both your right and left hand.  You will learn to use the correct footwork on a left hand lay-up as well as a right hand lay-up.  This is a drill that we at Hoop Dreams use for our youngest players all the way up to our pro’s!

You are sitting on the floor and the ball starts in your right hand and you will be using a “finger-tip dribble”. 

1.  You perform 100 “finger-tip dribbles” with your right hand. 

2.  Then lift both of your legs up and and dribble under both legs (while still sitting) and perform 100 “finger-tip dribbles” with your left hand. 

3.  Then lift up your left leg and perform 200 “finger-tip dribbles” with both your right and left in a “1-2 rhythm/alternating dribble” in the middle of both legs. 

Once you get pretty good with it, you can time yourself and finish the drill in 2 minutes, then 1:45, then 1:30, so on and so forth.  Continuing to beat your time and making your hands work harder. 

Benefits of “100-100-200″

This will increase the speed and quickness in your hands, which you can use not only on the offensive end (getting shot off quicker, quicker and more intimidating dribble, pass the ball quicker) but also on the defensive end (deflecting passes and dribbles, stealing the ball, etc.).

Rip Hamilton of the Detroit Pistons (NBA) gives tips on how to move without the ball.  He also gives tips on how to move without the ball at a high level!  This is the hardest way to guard an offensive player (someone who constantly moves without the ball).  Add moving without the ball to your game and become a complete player!