However, that can be both a blessing and a curse for basketball players aspiring to go to college.
While most players enjoy working on their individual moves and their dunks and other flashy maneuvers, a fundamentally sound basketball player can always find a spot on a college team as long as he contributes and plays a team game and has at least decent size, speed, and athleticism.
Basketball Fundamentals and Coaching Tips
Here are some tips for getting the most out of your ability in basketball and playing a team game. Some are fundamental nuances while both are simply basketball mindsets that a player can use.
Look at set up teammates first
If you keep it in your mindset to always look to get other guys involved, it will open up opportunities for your teammates and keep them into the flow of the game.
A player will get dis-interested when he is forced to stand around watching other people dribble and attack defenses. Once Michael Jordan understood he couldn't win games by himself and that he was better off getting his teammates involved early in the games before taking over late, he won championships.
Even the best players should follow his example and take this tip into consideration.
Catch the basketball with a strong base on two feet
Michigan basketball coach John Beilein has taken the Wolverines from a bad team to a team capable of beating top five opponents in the span of just one year. He is one of the most respected X's and O's coaches in all of basketball but he also focuses heavily on fundamentals.
One of the key fundamentals Beilein stresses is catching the ball on two feet so that a player can get into the triple threat (pass, shoot, drive) position as quickly as possible.
Players should keep this in their minds and try to make it second nature so that opponents will be kept off-balance. The more options a defender has to worry about, the tougher it is to guard someone.
Develop one go-to basketball skill
Every player should specialize in one thing that puts them above every other player on the basketball court. Whether that is a great jump shot, the ability to set picture-perfect picks, a tenacious attitude on the backboards going for rebounds, or something else, everyone in basketball needs to play a role.
Develop an identity on the court and work with it and make sure you have at least one go-to move such as a turnaround jump shot or a spin move or something to that effect that you can go to when the going gets tough and the defense tightens up.
Use good basketball shot fundamentals
Some players, like the 6'9 (with a wingspan of someone who is 7'2) Tayshaun Prince or the lightning fast, crafty Reggie Miller back in the day, or the ultra-athletic Shawn Marion, can get away with shooting the ball in a fashion that looks awkward to most basketball observers. But most players aren't amazing athletes or are not blessed with amazing size, so practicing a textbook shot with good rotation and a high, quick release is of the utmost importance.
A player might be able to get shots off with ease and be the best high school shooter in the state, but once that player gets to college, they might not even be able to get their shot off against bigger, more athletic defenders.
It is important to practice shooting every day and shot form is an important area to concentrate on. Also, utilizing the pass and the dribble to set up a shot is something that is important for a basketball player to practice because craftiness is another way to get off a shot against an athletic defender.
Basketball coaching tips final thoughts
These are just a few select basketball coaching fundamental tips and strategies players can work on in order to make their games more well-rounded in preparation for playing college basketball or higher in the future. Even the small things make a big difference in basketball and most players don't even realize it so it's a good idea to study hard and work on them to make them second nature.
