FREE NEWSLETTER Cutting Edge High School Basketball! Find out who is the best in the nation, keep up on all the best teams and join us for open discussion. Get the news letter and take your game to another level!
Cleveland Cavaliers
Position: Guard
Career Highlights: Langdon led Duke to the 1999 NCAA championship game and was the Eastern Regional MVP. He set a Duke record for career three-point field goals with 342 and was selected number 11 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1999 NBA Draft.
Practice is the key to consistency, according to Cavaliers guard Trajan Langdon. Whether brushing up on your shooting or working on a strong dribble, careful practice ensures progress.
When looking to improve your shot, it is imperative to take a lot of shots and make sure your repetitions are in the correct form
Go to the free throw line and be consistent. Take the same form out to your jump shot.
The more you practice, the better off you will be
If you want to take your game to the next level, it is important to work hard and play hard all of the time
When trying to increase the force and speed of the ball while dribbling, it is important to pound the ball as a warm-up drill everyday
Try to pound the ball into the floor as hard as you can, while keeping the ball under control. Control is key.
Weight lifting may also help, but mainly, you should just practice as frequently as possible
Utah Jazz
Position: Forward
Career Highlights: At 35, Karl became the oldest player to win the NBA MVP Award in 1999. Karl is currently third on the all-time NBA Scoring list behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain. In 1997, he was selected one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. Karl won two Olympic Gold Medals in 1992 and 1996, and was named to the Western Conference All-Star team 11 consecutive times. He has been an All-NBA First Team 10 years in a row.
In order to get into shape for an upcoming season, you have to start before camp, according to Utah Jazz All-Star forward Karl Malone. This personal training he calls boot camp. "My boot camp is so tough," he said. "When I'm finished with it, I'm finished with my training. I will give you my routine if you promise not to tell any other NBA players."
I wake up at 6 a.m. and spend an hour on the Stairmaster--level 12--No air conditioning allowed
Then, I do sprint work at the local high school for an hour
Running up and down the stadium stairs is one of my personal favorites
Then, I focus on weight lifting and then return for one more hour on the Stairmaster
Indiana Pacers
Position: Shooting Guard
Career Highlights: The most prolific three-point shooter in NBA playoff history. After several unsuccessful trips to the Eastern Conference Finals, Reggie Miller and the Indiana Pacers played in the 2000 NBA championships for the first time in his basketball career.
To add consistency to your free throw shooting, you should focus on lining up properly, concentrationing, the actual shot mechanics, and your follow through each time you practice, according to Indiana Pacers shooting guard Reggie Miller. "The key to the shot is to practice, practice, and practice more," he said. "Once you are comfortable, it will become the easier."
Step 1: Line up properly
Square your shoulders and body to the basket
Make sure your weight is balanced between your feet and that you are secure in your position
Your feet should be shoulder width apart, or further
If they are too close, you will end up off balance after finishing the shot. Try to find your stance and stick with it.
Step 2: Concentrate
Try not to read too much into the name of the shot. It is by no means free. You have to really concentrate.
"Personaly, dribbling the ball six times and taking a deep breath focuses me. Then I lock into the basket and shoot."
Step 3: Shooting
Hold the ball on your fingertips, not the palm of your shooting hand
Aim just over the rim, bend your knees and push off the court with your feet. Do not jump.
Push the ball towards the basket until your arms extend completely
Some free throw champs swear by keeping their elbows in because it restricts their shooting to a vertical plane. My technique is to simply do what feels comfortable.
Step 4: Follow through
As you release the ball, snap your wrist down to create backspin. This softens the shot.
Winning Basketball Drills which will help you improve your game dramatically in as little as two weeks!
Welcome to the Coaches Corner!
We offer cutting edge information and tools for you to take your team to the next level! You will find plays for offense & defense. We also offer resources to help you as a coach. Unlike most sites on the web we actually offer information and tools you can use. Not just a lot of products we want you to buy.
TOP 2002 HIGH SCHOOL RECRUITS | PRE-SUMMER RANKINGS Rk. Name WT/HT Po. Hometown/School (Committment)
1. Shavlik Randolph 6-10 210 PF Raleigh, N.C./Broughton 2. Amare Stoudemire 6-10 235 C/PF Orlando, Fla./Cypress Creek (Memphis) 3. Lenny Cooke 6-5 200 SF Old Tappan, N.J./Northern Valley Regional 4. Sani Ibrahim 6-10 225 PF/C Winchendon, Mass./Winchendon 5. Sean May 6-8 235 PF Bloomington, Ind./North 6. Shelden Williams 6-9 245 PF/C Midwest City, Okla./Midwest City 7. Rashad McCants 6-3 205 SG New Hampton, N.H./New Hampton School (North Carolina) 8. Raymond Felton 6-2 175 PG Latta, S.C./Latta (North Carolina) 9. Anthony Roberson 6-1 175 PG/SG Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw 10. Evan Burns 6-7 200 SF Los Angeles/Fairfax 11. Paul Davis 6-10 225 C Rochester, Mich./Rochester (Michigan State) 12. Sean Dockery 6-2 175 PG Chicago/Julian 13. Kelenna Azubuike 6-6 195 SF/SG Tulsa, Okla./Victory Christian 14. Alexander Johnson 6-10 230 C/PF Albany, Ga./Dougherty 15. J.J. Redick 6-4 185 SG Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring (Duke) 16. Carmelo Anthony 6-7 190 SF Towson, Md./Towson Catholic 17. Chris Rodgers 6-4 190 SG/PG Portland, Ore./Wilson (Arizona) 18. Torin Francis 6-10 220 PF/C Marion, Mass./Tabor Academy 19. Bracey Wright 6-4 180 SG The Colony, Tex./The Colony 20. Michael Thompson 6-10 245 C New Lenox, Ill./Providence Catholic (Duke) 21. Daniel "Dee" Brown 5-10 165 PG Maywood, Ill./Proviso East 22. John Gilchrist 6-2 170 PG Virginia Beach, Va./Salem 23. Lester Abram 6-5 185 SF Pontiac, Mich./Northern 24. Mario Boggan 6-7 310 C Mouth of Wilson, Va./Oak Hill Academy 25. Matt Walsh 6-7 185 SG/SF Fort Washington, Penn./Germantown Academy (Florida) 26. Antonio Lawrence 6-4 185 SG/PG Jacksonville, Fla./Jackson 27. Daniel Horton 6-2 180 PG/SG Cedar Hill, Tex./Cedar Hill 28. JR Morris 6-5 195 SF Milwaukee, Wisc./Vincent 29. Gerry McNamara 6-1 175 PG Scranton, Penn./Bishop Hannan (Syracuse) 30. DeAngelo Collins 6-9 230 C Inglewood, Calif./Inglewood 31. Jimmy McKinney 6-3 180 SG/PG St. Louis, Mo./Vashon 32. Chadd Moore 6-2 180 SG/PG Mouth of Wilson, Va./Oak Hill 33. Rick Cornett 6-8 215 PF Homewood, Ill./Homewood Christian 34. Steve Novak 6-9 205 WF Brown Deer, Wisc./Brown Deer 35. Kennedy Winston 6-6 190 SF Pritchard, Ala./Blount 36. Matt Trannon 6-6 195 SF Flint, Mich./Northern 37. Deron Williams 6-2 185 PG The Colony, Tex./The Colony 38. Chris Hunter 6-10 210 C/PF Gary, Ind./West Side 39. Marshall Strickland 6-2 185 SG/PG Winchendon, Mass./Winchendon School 40. Kevin Bookout 6-8 255 PF Stroud, Okla./Stroud 41. Jason Fraser 6-9 210 PF Amityville, N.Y./Amityville 42. Justin Gray 6-1 170 PG/SG Mouth of Wilson, Va./Oak Hill Academy 43. Derek Burditt 6-7 190 SF Marrero, La./John Ehret (California) 44. Marcus White 6-8 215 PF Chicago/Whitney Young 45. Hassan Adams 6-4 180 SG/SF Los Angeles/Westchester 46. Jeff Horner 6-2 175 PG Mason City, Iowa/Mason City (Iowa) 47. Bryan Hopkins 5-11 170 PG Dallas, Tex./Lincoln 48. Jarrett Jack 6-3 180 PG Durham, N.C./Mount Zion 49. Eric Williams 6-8 280 C Wake Forest, N.C./Wake Forest-Rolesville T-50. Curtis Sumpter 6-7 210 PF/SF Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin T-50. Ted Skuchas 6-11 240 C Fort Washington, Penn./Germantown Academy T.-50. Martin Iti 7-0 210 C Villa Park, Calif./Villa Park TOP 10 POINT GUARDS Rk. Player Ht./Wt Hometown/High School Commitment
1. Raymond Felton 6-2 175 Latta, S.C./Latta North Carolina 2. Anthony Roberson 6-1 175 Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw None 3. Sean Dockery 6-2 175 Chicago/Julian None 4. Daniel "Dee" Brown 5-10 165 Maywood, Ill./Proviso East None 5. John Gilchrist 6-2 170 Virginia Beach, Va./Salem None 6. Daniel Horton 6-2 180 Cedar Hill, Tex./Cedar Hill None 7. Gerry McNamara 6-1 175 Scranton, Penn./Bishop Hannan Syracuse 8. Deron Williams 6-2 185 The Colony, Tex./The Colony None 9. Justin Gray 6-1 170 Mouth of Wilson, Va./Oak Hill Academy None T-10. Bryan Hopkins 5-11 170 Dallas, Tex./Lincoln None T-10. Jeff Horner 6-2 175 Mason City, Iowa/Mason City Iowa T-10. Jarrett Jack 6-3 180 Durham, N.C./Mount Zion None TOP 10 SHOOTING GUARDS Rk. Player Ht./Wt Hometown/High School Commitment
1. Rashad McCants 6-3 205 New Hampton, N.H./New Hampton School North Carolina 2. J.J. Redick 6-4 185 Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring Duke 3. Chris Rodgers 6-4 190 Portland, Ore./Wilson Arizona 4. Bracey Wright 6-4 180 The Colony, Tex./The Colony None 5. Matt Walsh 6-7 185 Fort Washington, Penn./Germantown Academy Florida 6. Antonio Lawrence 6-4 185 Jacksonville, Fla./Jackson None 7. Jimmy McKinney 6-3 180 St. Louis, Mo./Vashon None 8. Chadd Moore 6-2 180 Mouth of Wilson, Va./Oak Hill None 9. Marshall Strickland 6-2 185 Winchendon, Mass./Winchendon School None 10. Hassan Adams 6-4 180 Los Angeles/Westchester None TOP 10 SMALL FORWARDS Rk. Player Ht./Wt Hometown/High School Commitment
1. Lenny Cooke 6-5 200 Old Tappan, N.J./Northern Valley Regional None 2. Evan Burns 6-7 200 Los Angeles/Fairfax None 3. Kelenna Azubuike 6-6 195 Tulsa, Okla./Victory Christian None 4. Carmelo Anthony 6-7 190 Towson, Md./Towson Catholic None 5. Lester Abram 6-5 185 Pontiac, Mich./Northern None 6. J.R. Morris 6-5 195 Milwaukee/Vincent None 7. Steve Novak 6-9 205 Brown Deer, Wis./Brown Deer None 8. Kennedy Winston 6-6 190 Pritchard, Ala./Blount None 9. Matt Trannon 6-6 195 Flint, Mich./Northern None 10. Derek Burditt 6-7 190 Marrero, La./John Ehret California
TOP 10 POWER FORWARDS Rk. Player Ht./Wt Hometown/High School Commitment
1. Shavlik Randolph 6-10 210 Raleigh, N.C./Broughton None 2. Sani Ibrahim 6-10 225 Winchendon, Mass./Winchendon None 3. Sean May 6-8 235 Bloomington, Ind./North None 4. Shelden Williams 6-9 245 Midwest City, Okla./Midwest City None 5. Torin Francis 6-10 220 Marion, Mass./Tabor Academy None 6. Rick Cornett 6-8 215 Homewood, Ill./Homewood Christian None 7. Kevin Bookout 6-8 255 Stroud, Okla./Stroud None 8. Jason Fraser 6-9 210 Amityville, N.Y./Amityville None 9. Marcus White 6-8 215 Chicago/Whitney Young None 10. Curtis Sumpter 6-7 210 Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin None TOP 10 CENTERS Rk. Player Ht./Wt Hometown/High School Commitment
1. Amare Stoudemire 6-10/235 Orlando, Fla./Cypress Creek Memphis 2. Paul Davis 6-10/225 Rochester, Mich./Rochester Michigan State 3. Alexander Johnson 6-10/230 Albany, Ga./Dougherty None 4. Michael Thompson 6-10/245 New Lenox, Ill./Providence Catholic Duke 5. Mario Boggan 6-7/310 Mouth of Wilson, Va./Oak Hill Academy None 6. DeAngelo Collins 6-9/230 Inglewood, Calif./Inglewood None 7. Chris Hunter 6-10/210 Gary, Ind./West Side None 8. Eric Williams 6-8/280 Wake Forest, N.C./Wake Forest-Rolesville None 9. Ted Skuchas 6-11/240 Fort Washington, Penn./Germantown Academy None 10. Martin Iti 7-0/210 Villa Park, Calif./Villa Park None
Shooting a Basketball
Lenny Wilkens on the art of Shooting!
