Transformation

Transforming our players and team as a whole from 1 on 1 basketball to team basketball is what we as a staff are trying to do each and every day. As a group we want them to be ready to play the high school level. Not just play athletically but also be able to understand why we may scheme the way we do.

As early teens it is tough to understand the idea of space because they have not always developed it in daily life. We talk about playing with our eyes and “seeing the court.” If we crowd the court then it becomes way too easy for the defense. As Hubie Brown says we never want one defender able to guard two offenders. A major combination of spacing is patience. Do not force the offense, make the extra pass and look for something to develop. Something being a teammate in space with a high percentage shot.
The idea of high percentage shots is tough to teach and we seeing that at times it takes trial and error, learn through personal experience. Open does not necessarily mean high percentage. Shooting from the baseline when open is still a tough shot. As a coach it does not make sense to get on a player when they take an open shot. I make a point to let them know there are better shots to look for.

The other major time we as a team and a coaching staff see this is when playing from behind. The biggest thing we preach is we cannot make up the difference in one possession. We have to make stops and get quality shots on the offensive end. Yesterday we came out of halftime down and we got turnovers but we forced shots and so we were unable to convert on the other end.

As a staff we are teaching a much more complex level of basketball. We do not have the record we were hoping for but as a group we are learning the team game. When we have good possessions or hold teams from scoring it feels so good as a coach. The important thing to remember this is a process and it does not happen over night.
Playing team basketball and understanding basketball while athleticism is crucial it takes much more because every team has athletic players. Seeing the boys comprehend the floor and incorporating teammates shows growing maturity not just as athletes but as young men and that is crucial for future success in high school athletes.