What is the high post in basketball
The high post is a specific area on the basketball court which begins from one edge of the free throw line to the other edge in addition to the area that is between the free throw line and the top of the three-point line.
Furthermore, the high post corners are also commonly known as the elbows of the court.
What is a common offensive tactic that utilizes the high post
A common offensive tactic that utilizes the high post is the high low action. An offensive team can implement the high low action by placing one player in the high post and another player near the low post block.
Afterwards, the high post player can receive the ball from another teammate that is typically near the perimeter behind the three-point line.
Following that, the low post player would then cut into the lane, receive the ball from the high post player, and then attempt to score near the basket with a layup, dunk, or low post move.
Why is it important for the defensive team to cover the high post
It is important for the defensive team to cover the high post because they will then be able to effectively limit or prevent dribble penetration towards the middle, particularly within man to man defense.
This is also typically referred to as protecting the nail or nail defense because the center of the free throw line near the high post contains a nail which is technically utilized to properly align the basketball goal.
However, for defensive purposes, when a defender stands near the nail, offensive players, generally near the top or wings cannot easily execute dribble penetration towards the middle because the nail defender near the high post would be standing in their way.
Also, in terms of certain types of zone defense, if the defensive team is able to cover the high post area properly, this could potentially make it more challenging for the offensive team to pass the ball into the high post, which is usually a weak spot or vulnerability within several zone defenses.
What are examples of offensive strategies that feature high post action
The 1-4 high offense is a basketball offensive strategy that primarily utilizes the high post as well as the wing areas to create scoring opportunities near the basket or from the perimeter, typically with a variety of basketball cuts and/or basketball screens.
The Horns offense is a basketball offensive strategy which emphasizes spacing to create scoring opportunities near the basket or from the perimeter by way of various actions such as basketball screens and dribble handoffs.
The Princeton offense is a basketball offensive strategy which utilizes the fundamental skills of cutting, dribbling, passing, screening, and shooting as well as three unique series of actions known as Chin, Low and Point to create scoring opportunities near the basket or from the perimeter.
The UCLA offense is a basketball offensive strategy developed by Coach John Wooden that focuses on the fundamentals of passing, screening, and cutting to create various scoring opportunities, primarily near the basket but also from the perimeter.
What is an example of a high post entry set with scoring options
High Post Entry – Part 1
This is an example of a high post entry set with multiple scoring options. To begin, 4 receives the ball from 1 and then 4 executes the entry pass to 5.
Following that, 2 rejects a screen set by 4 and instead, executes a backdoor cut to the basket. From there, 2 could receive the ball from 5 and score at the rim if that is open.
Otherwise, 2 could cut through to the right side low post area while 4 self replaces at the left side slot.
High Post Entry – Part 2
Next, 3 could cut to the basket via the back screen set by 2, receive the ball from 5, and score at the rim if that is open.
If 3 is not open, then 3 could cut through to the left side wing area while 2 fills the vacated right side wing.
High Post Entry – Part 3
Next, 1 could cut to the basket, receive the handoff from 5, and score at the rim. If 1 is not open, then 1 could cut to the left side corner.
Afterwards, to finish the scissor cut, 4 could cut to the basket, receive the handoff from 5, and score at the rim as well. If 4 is also not open, then 4 could cut to the right side corner.
High Post Entry – Part 4
Following that action, 5 could execute a dribble handoff with 2 and then 2 could dribble towards the basket. Also, 5 could roll to the basket, receive the ball from 2, and score at the rim if that is open.
Furthermore, as additional scoring options, 2 could take the mid-range jump shot, drive to the rim and score with a layup themselves, or pass to one of the other teammates behind the three-point line.
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What are examples of high post set plays
Set Play – Example 1 – Part 1
This is an example of a high post set play derived from Corner Offense, Set Plays, and Practice Drills by Cheryl Reeve.
To begin, 3 receives the ball from 1 and then 1 cuts through to the left side corner. Following that, 5 lifts to the left side high post elbow and receives the ball from 3.
Also, as that happens, 4 cuts across the lane to the right side corner.
Set Play – Example 1 – Part 2
Next, 3 cuts to the basket via the back screen set by 1. Also, 2 cuts to the corner via the flare screen set by 4.
After that, 3 could receive the ball from 5 and score near the rim or 2 could receive the ball instead and take the open jump shot.
Set Play – Example 2 – Part 1
This is an example of a high post set play which begins with the scissor cut in which two offensive players near the slots will split between the high post player.
Afterwards, the play transitions into basic spread pick and roll with multiple scoring options.
To start, 4 receives the ball from 1 and then, 3 receives the ball from 4. Next, 1 cuts to the basket via the back screen set by 5 near the high post and following that, 1 could receive the ball from 3 and score at the rim if that is open.
Otherwise, 1 cuts out to the left side corner and as that occurs, 4 cuts to the basket via the back screen set by 5. At that point, 4 could receive the ball from 3 and score at the basket if that is open.
If it is not open, then 4 can cut out to the right side corner.
Set Play – Example 2 – Part 2
Next, 3 could dribble towards the high post area via the on-ball screen set by 5. After that, 5 could roll to the basket and receive the ball from 3.
Also, 3 could possibly take the mid-range jump shot, dribble to the basket and score themselves, or pass to one of the other teammates on the perimeter for additional jump shot opportunities.
Set Play – Example 3 – Part 1
This is an example of a high post set play derived from The Complete Guide to the High Post Offense vs. Any Defense by Coach Dana Altman.
To begin, 1 dribbles toward the left slot which triggers a small shallow cut by 4 to the right slot. Afterwards, 5 at the high post receives the ball from 1.
Next, 4 cuts to the right side wing via a flare screen set by 2. Furthermore, 2 could slip that screen and cut to the basket.
Following that, 2 could receive the ball from 5 and score at the rim if that is open. Alternatively, 4 could receive the ball from 5 instead and take the open three-point shot.
Moreover, if 4 receives the ball but is not open, then 2 could cut to the right side low post block, receive the ball from 4, and then score with a low post move if 2 is able to accomplish that.
Set Play – Example 3 – Part 2
Next, if 2 is not able to execute a low post move, then 3 could cut to the basket by way of rejecting a screen set by 5. After that, 3 could receive the ball from 2 and score at the rim.
Also, as a secondary option, 1 could cut to the right side wing area via the screen and split cut action by 4. Next, 1 could receive the ball from 2 and take the three-point shot if open.
Set Play – Example 4 – Part 1
This is an example of a high post Horns set play that seeks to create quick hitting scoring opportunities, especially for the point guard. It is derived from Loop and Elbow Offenses and Counter Sets by Cheryl Reeve.
To begin, 1 dribbles toward the left slot and then, 4 receives the ball from 1. Afterwards, 1 cuts to the basket via a back screen set by 5, receives the ball again from 4, and scores at the rim if that is open.
Set Play – Example 4 – Part 2
If 1 is not open on the initial cut, then 1 cuts back to the left slot via a pin down screen set by 5. Following that, 1 could receive the ball from 4 and take the quick three-point jump shot if that is open.
Alternatively, 5 could duck into the lane after setting the screen to initiate high low action. From there, 5 could receive the ball from 4 and score around the basket, particularly with a low post move.
What is an example of high post scoring options within spread offense
Spread – Part 1
This is an example of high post scoring options derived from Spread Offense by Brad Underwood. To demonstrate, 2 receives the ball from 1 and then, 4 cuts to the basket via the back screen set by 5.
Afterwards, 4 could receive the ball from 2 and score at the rim if that is open. Otherwise, 4 can cut through to the right side corner.
Spread – Part 2
Next, 3 rejects the high post elbow screen set by 5 and then cuts to the basket. From there, 3 could receive the ball and score at the rim. Alternatively, 3 could cut to the right side low post block, receive the ball, shown with the gray dotted arrow, and then score with a low post move.
Spread – Part 3
If 3 does not receive the ball near the basket or in the low post, then 5 could receive it from 2. After that, 1 could cut towards the high post area and receive a handoff from 5.
From that point, 1 could dribble towards the basket and score the layup at the rim. Alternatively, 3 could receive the short pass from 1 and then score around the basket as well.
What are examples of high post basketball drills
For each of the drills below, player number do not necessarily represent standard basketball positions.
Therefore, player 1 does not necessarily have to be a point guard or player 3 does not have to always be a small forward.
In other words, each of the players on the diagrams could be used interchangeably but numbers are shown for simplicity and clarity.
Drill #1
This is a basketball drill in which two players near the slots will receive handoffs from two high post players.
Afterwards, the players near the left slot can drive to the basket and score with a layup while the players near the right slot could take a mid-range jump shot.
To demonstrate, 1 cuts toward the right side high post elbow, receives the handoff from 4, and then takes a mid-range jump shot.
At the same time, 2 cuts toward the left side high post elbow, receives the handoff from 3, and then drives to the basket to take the layup.
Afterwards, the two slot players should get the ball out of the net and then the four players should exchange high post and slot positions on the court.
Drill #2
This is a drill in which a UCLA screen occurs and scoring action near the rim. To start, 2 receives the ball from 1 and then, 1 cuts to the basket via the UCLA screen set by 3.
Following that, 1 receives the ball from 2 and scores at the rim with a layup. Next, 1 gets the ball out of the net and cuts to the right side wing area.
As that occurs, 2 moves to the high post area and then 3 cuts to the right side slot area.
From that point, the drill could be executed again with the players executing new roles as passers, screeners, or cutters.
Drill #3
This is a drill which features another back screen with action similar to the Chin series of the Princeton offense. To demonstrate, 1 cuts to the basket via the back screen set by 3.
After that, 1 receives the ball from 2 and gets the layup near the rim. From there, 1 takes the ball out of the net and moves to the left side wing.
At the same time, 2 cuts to the right side high post and 3 moves to the right side slot. Following that, the drill could start again with the players in new spots on the courts.
Drill #4
For this drill, the ball begins on the right side wing and a wide pin down screen occurs near the left side of the court. To demonstrate, 2 cuts to the top via the wide pin down screen set by 3.
Afterwards, 2 receives the ball from 1 and takes the three-point jump shot. From there, 2 follows the shot, gets the rebound and switches to the right side wing.
Also, as that happens, 1 switches to the left side high post elbow while 3 moves over to the left side corner.
Once those transitions occur, the drill can get initiated again with the players in new roles as the passer, screener, or cutter.
Drill #5
This drill is somewhat similar to the previous one with the wide pin down screen action. However, this time, the cutter executes a curl cut to the basket instead of cutting to the top.
To demonstrate, 2 executes a curl cut to the basket via the wide pin down screen set by 3. Next, 2 receives the ball from 1 and scores near the rim.
From that point, 2 gets the ball out of the net and cuts across to the right side wing. Also, as that happens, 1 moves over to the left side high post elbow while 3 takes position at the left side corner.
Next, the players can execute the drill again with their new roles of passer, screener, and cutter.