Our Friday workouts are meant to provide a leg up on your winter competition. Our workouts will take place at St. Marys Academy, in Elizabeth, NJ. You want a workout that meets all your expectations and more, then you need to register today.
“If you want to play high school basketball, raise your hand.” All hands go up.
“If you want to play college basketball, raise your hand.” The same hands go back up.
The reality of the situation is that most kids in your local gym will most likely play HS basketball, which is great, that goal is now accomplished. However, college is a different story.
A lot of kids do not realize the discipline it takes to make the dream of being a college athlete a reality. Below, we’ll go over the five P’s of success and the basketball figures that said them. Our hope is that these five qualities will change the way you think about your live.
Priorities:
“Your decisions reveal your priorities.” Jeff Van Gundy
Passion:
“I’m looking for players who make their teammates better. You do that with enthusiasm and passion” Mike Krzyzewski
Patience:
“Love never fails. Character never Quits. And with patience and persistence, dreams do come true” Pete Maravich
Persistence:
“I’m still waiting for perfection. In the meantime, I’ll settle for persistence” Bo Ryan
Positive:
“Any guy who can maintain a positive attitude without much playing time earns my respect” Magic Johnson
Coaches have a good idea who will make the team even before attending the tryout. It’s not political, it’s just facts. Those who have been involved in all off-season strength, skill and team development have a better chance of making the team then those who were not around. That being said, make sure you plan ahead and participate in as much as you can. As a coach myself, cutting kids that enjoy the game is very hard to do. However, you make it easy on us when you don’t attend scheduled events. Don’t make it easy. As Shane Battier once said, “my job is to play so well the coach can’t sit me.” Make our job hard, not easy, and you can do that by following tips below.
- Be selfless and make the extra pass.
- Always make eye contact with your coach.
- Dive for loose balls and take charges. The things that aren’t in the stat book.
- Be an amazing teammate. Cheer on the guys in the drill and pick up guys from the floor.
- Get there early and stay late. Get a sweat going before the coaches begin practice.
- Be the most vocal and enthusiastic in the gym. “I got ball!” “I got your help.” “Great pass!”
- Stay within yourself. Don’t do things out of your comfort zone, that’s not what people want to see at tryouts.
- Run the floor hard and look to score. Run to every drill, water break, station.
- Box out every chance you get. Be a fundmental specialist.
- Do the things that you can control. Effort, hard work, making layups and easy jump shots. Be aggressive.
If you know how to dribble a ball, then chances are you have played a game of 1 on 1. My teammates Joe Alexander, Alex Ruoff, John Flowers and more used to play games of 1 on 1 into the crazy hrs of the night. We played not only to improve our individual skills, but also because future hall of fame basketball coach, Bob Huggins, said so. He knew that if we played enough 1 on 1 games that it would hone in on our individual skills, which in turn would make us a better team.
Here’s why playing 1 on 1 is so beneficial:
- Repetitions: As I have mentioned in my past posts, during typical 5 on 5 games, each player hardly touches the ball enough times to make yourself a better player. When you play a game of 1 on 1, you will instantly see an improvement in touches, skill and overall intensity, which in turn, will make you a better basketball player.
- Accountability: Defensively, you are accountable for yourself. There is no help side defense, no shot blocker and no coach waiting to yank you out if you give up a bucket. Which may be a good thing. The pressure is on you to get a stop and get the ball back. This mindset will make you a better on ball defender.
- Teaching Yourself: The more repetitions, the sooner you will figure our a move on your own. Not only will you figure it out, but you will find more ways to get into your move and with enough repetitions, you will soon make it a part of your game.
Here are 5 beneficial 1 on 1 games:
- Play from the top of the key and use 1 – 3 dribbles to score
- Play from the wing and the only way you can score is via mid-range jumpers
- Play from either elbow and you must score with your weak hand
- Play from the block and you only get 1 dribble
- Play from the opposite free throw line and only use up to 5 dribbles to score
Use these rules when playing the games mentioned above:
- Play by 1’s and 2’s
- Play to 5
- Play a best of five series
- No make it take it
- After game point is scored, shoot a free throw to win the game. If they don’t make the free throw, they lose a point and you continue to play.
The process of developing an athlete at any age is much like farming or like planting a lawn. There are no immediate results just as there are no immediate results from farming. The process requires even more patience.
First, the seeds must be planted, then fertilizer for growth. Overfeeding can cause problems, as can under-feeding. If I sit and wait for my lawn to sprout, I feel many of the same frustrations of the parent. When will I see results? How come nothing is happening? All this work and nothing.
The key is to not quit. Have faith in the process. Continue to add water and wait. Farming and athlete development are eerily similar. Years may pass with no real notice. Suddenly coaches begin to call. Your reaction might be, “it’s about time someone notices!” Much like the first blades of grass poking through the ground, you begin to see success. You begin to experience positive feedback.
We live in a world obsessed with quick fixes and instant results. This is why the farm analogy can be both informative and comforting. Development must be approached over a period of weeks and months, not days. The reality is that there is no quick fix, no easy way, no magic plan, no secret formula. There is only the law of the farm.
Plant the seeds.
Feed and water properly.
Wait for results, they will happen, not in days, but in weeks and maybe months.
We see it all the time, kids transferring from public to private school hoping for a better opportunity in academia, sports or just their overall school experience.
Growing up in suburban America, I had an opportunity to attend a private school at an early age. From a first graders’ point of view, I did not like private school. As a young, growing, mischievous, adolescent boy, I was curious about a lot of things: like how fast I could slide under the desks of my fellow classmates; or, how I could scare my teacher with the ski mask I brought in for show and tell. Yes, I was one of those. For every wrong I did, I was met with a belt or a yardstick, whatever was closest. Yep, that’s right, a belt or a yard stick. My parents tell me that I was the top student in my class and the school I attended taught me a ton, but I’d tell them that it taught me not to enjoy private school.
My next stint with a private school was a total 180 degrees different from my first.
I attended Blair Academy as a postgraduate. It was a decision that I made mostly because of basketball. At the time, I was 6 feet 6 inches, 180 pounds soaking wet. The one clear difference between Blair and my first private school, was their kindness towards me. However, who knows what my first grade teachers would have thought if they had known that I’d be a college athlete one day. But I also did not feel the need to crawl suspiciously under my classmates’ desks, so who really knows.
This story of my first stint at private school does not represent any of the private schools now a days, however a strict learning environment is what makes private school so appealing to those that have never been.
Below we will illustrate the top 8 reasons why someone would leave the comfort zone of their public high school to attend a school of rich tradition.
You will be taught by amazing teachers.
Boarding schools traditionally hire teachers with degrees in their subject. A large number of the teachers may also have an advanced degree in their field. Traditionally, all are passionate about their subject and love to teach young people
You will enjoy great sports with top notch facilities.
One of the main reasons I attended Blair Academy was outstanding basketball program. However, at the time they did not have an amazing sports facilities, that has changed since my graduation in 2006 But, having access to a basketball specific gym to get as many shots up as I wanted was helpful and now used as a big selling point.
You will get to live away from home.
This is a tough one for most parents. Leaving the nest is never easy. But, wouldn’t you rather do it a few years before having to leave for college?
Also, if you’re that one kid that can’t stand his or her environment, then you have an opportunity to change it. Also, living by yourself, away from parents, friends and loved ones is tough, but you will get stronger because of it.
Academic opportunities to grow.
The entire academic program of a private school is geared to get you into college. And, in that environment, you begin to learn, and not just listen to pass a test. Also, you learn how to study, rather than just receive information and be left on your own.
You will have tons of friends and classmates that want to go to college.
Not many, if any of your boarding school friends will be there involuntarily. They all ultimately have the same goal of attending a top notch university. Unlike public schools where some kids are still figuring it out, private schools actually do a great job of surrounding you with like-minded people.
You will learn to take care of yourself.
Prep/boarding school taught me that no one was going to do “it” for me. If I didn’t take out the garbage in my room then it would stink. If I didn’t wash my clothes then I’d smell. If I didn’t fix myself breakfast, I wouldn’t eat. I think you get the picture.
The classrooms create a better learning environment.
Boarding schools as a rule are not large institutions. Some may have 1,000 or more students, but many have a population in the 350-500 student range. This provides an intimate setting and a nice teacher student ratio in the classroom.
The norm is to be smart.
In public school, being smart means that you are doing something wrong. You can also be seen as an outcast to others. In private/boarding school, being smart is the norm. If you aren’t smart, then don’t expect to be taken seriously. People want to learn at these institutions. After all, it’s cool to learn.
Everyone wants to be one, but only a select few can handle the responsibilities. The point guard is an extension of the coach on the floor. So when we say that the position comes with a lot of responsibilities, it does. To be a point guard you must be judge, jury and at times take the hit when coach gets on the team for making a poor decision. It comes with an added role of leadership that must be displayed day 1 on the job.
The difference between a good and great point guard isn’t always about making shots or having dozens of assists. It’s also about the intangibles and doing things that puts your team in the best position to succeed. Below are five rules you should know if you want to become an efficient point guard.
Take Care Of The Ball
As a point guard your number one responsibility is to have a great assist to turnover ratio. That means more assists then turnovers. If the ball is being carelessly thrown around the gym then the likely hood of your team winning will diminish quickly. You need to be the best ball handler on your team. If coach can’t rely on you to bring up the ball and handle pressure, then who can he rely on? Make sure you stay out of areas on the floor that might lead to more turnovers. Therefore, my best advice for all point guards is to keep the ball in the middle of the floor.
Be A Leader On and Off The Floor
Your job as point guard does not end when you leave the gym. As point guard you also must be the leader and most trusted person on and off the floor. People need to look at you when something goes array. Once again, you’re an extension of your coach.
There are different ways to lead. Some are more outspoken then others, while some lead by example. You must customize yourself around how you lead.
Make Your Teammates Better
This is tough to do, but when you think about it, you will have the ball in your hands the majority of the game. Your job as play caller and leader on the floor is to also get your teammates in a great position to score the basketball. This may lead to a few balls to be thrown off their head, but trust me, they’ll look next time.
My rule for our point guard is to try and get to the decision line (foul line) every time. At the decision line you can choose to kick it out, continue driving, pull up for a jump shot or set the offense back up. Furthermore, your job as point guard is to also make sure the right players get the right touches. So, if one of your scorers or more dominant player is having a rough night, feed them the ball for an easy bucket.
Pressure The Ball
As a point guard, the most annoying and challenging thing to do is when some applies pressure defense 84 or 94ft up the floor. It wears you down as a player and there really isn’t a second that you can spare or take a break. I’m sure the point guard on the other team thinks the same. Force them to places you don’t want to go, like the corners of the floor. We aren’t saying reach, gamble or try to force steals, we’re saying apply pressure to the basketball that will make the opposing point guard feel uncomfortable.
Play At Different Speeds
A player that plays at the same speed every play is very easy to guard. Even a mediocre defender can defend a player that doesn’t play with a change of speed or direction. When you play with a change of speed this will keep the defense guessing and off balance when they try to pressure you.
Whether you have just started playing point guard, or have been playing it all your life. The above illustrates five simple ways to be an effective and efficient point guard on your team.
By: William Hughes
“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we can be who we want, we can change, we can make a difference.” Buddhist Teaching.
Mind-Set – What we believe, what we think is omnipotent All powerful. This is Mind Set – the positive and focused state of mind that warrants us the will to go forward and act upon with relentless determination and purpose. Mind-Set is the attitude which provides us the edge necessary to finish what we start. To finish with the results sought and selected, not settled. Mind-Set can be the separator that ignites our natural skills and training and allows them to blend together and flourish. A strong Mind-Set starts with believing. – in yourself, in possibilities. It can become you. It can become the truth. Believing gives hope, hope provides a will, and where there is a will, there is a way. Believing breeds energy – energy breeds effort – effort breeds results. Mind-Set can supersede talent, brains and brawn. The founding belief in ourselves is the foundation behind a strong Mind-Set. For where the mind lies, there lies the treasure.
Believing in Yourself – Cut yourself a break. What we think about ourselves can become the truth. We create our experiences by our thoughts and feelings. What we give out, we get back. Work with and accept “the whole” of you – the good, the bad and the ugly. Build off the positive energy from successes and learn adjustments from the misfires. Avoid being held captive by broken memories, refuse to allow them to remind you of what is not. Avoid repeating regrets, let life’s lessons be the guide for today. Stay in the present, in the moment so to speak, for this is where successful endeavors begin. Let go of any negative energy. Remember, we are human, thus imperfect by nature so inevitably will run into rough spots. Avoidance is unlikely so we work to minimize the frequency and shorten the durations of these. Remember, our past failures are not fatal and realizing this allows us to move boldly into the future with both conviction and purpose being humbled by the fact that life could be worse yet driven and motivated by the notion that it can still be better. With every passing moment there becomes another chance to do it better. Believe in you, give yourself some credit and recognize your efforts along the way and not just results. All told ; Be who you are, give all of yourself, hold true to your word and finish what you start.
Free to Choose – Free to Change – Choose what you want and move in the direction that grabs you. You are Free to Choose so you are most definitely Free to Change. A strong Mind-Set provides us with the strength and courage to adjust and change what is not working, no matter how positive we are. Changes are necessary for completion. Choose what you want and change the thought processes to allow the necessary actions to get you there. A strong Mind-Set exudes positive and constructive thoughts because whatever your subconscious hears, it remembers. The words you choose to describe and act upon in your daily life reflect the thought processes that govern each waking moment. Negative and underlying concepts can weaken the Mind-Set and sabotage all of your best intentions. The answers lie in the words and pictures. Visualize and verbalize consciously and you can change the structure of whatever negativity your subconscious may have stored up. Visualization or mindfulness is one of the most powerful tools we have to help instigate & create change. We need to train our mindfulness as we train our bodies. Train this into a “fine centered / one directional focus.” The external focus, the one we see as the “end game,” is a beneficial focal point for production. Being mindful of the situation, the surroundings and the desired result is what allows adjustments to come to fruition. Quieting and centering the mind is at the core of mindfulness and visualization and can be done how the individual see fit. Meditation and/or Reflective Time are ways to center oneself which presents one the opportunity to re-group, re-charge and re-set, all with the desire to re-play, which presents the chance for more, for better, or for what just fits better, plain and simple.
The mind can compensate where the body cannot. In the end, the thoughts and beliefs that win out are the ones you feed the most.
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