Player Development: Scott Drew’s Tips for Producing NBA Guards

• By James Locke

The game of basketball is in the golden age of dynamic point guards. As high-level players such as Memphis’ Marcus Sasser have shown, point guards have to be all-around playmakers able to read defenses, distribute the ball with a notable basketball IQ, and space the floor with a knockdown jump-shot. 

Having a reliable Point Guard who can score, facilitate, and distribute the ball is a necessity for any championship team. 

There are many ways to develop an average player into a force to be reckoned with. Incorporating advanced player development drills is arguably the most effective way of enhancing a player’s ability to produce for the team at a high capacity. 

As Head Coach of Baylor Basketball since 2003, Scott Drew has compiled a lengthy list of achievements, including three Big 12 Coach of the Year awards and an NCAA National Championship in 2021.

Drew has a track record of developing productive, pro-level guards having produced 4 NBA draft picks at the guard position including 2 top-ten selections in Sacramento’s Davion Mitchell and San Antonio’s Jeremy Sochan. Drew will soon add to the tally with Keyonte George and Adam Flagler, both highly regarded prospects in this year’s draft. 

Drew and former Baylor Assistant Coach Mark Morefield stress that a developing point guard must become proficient in these main attributes, among others, to be successful:

-A sheer desire to win

-Ability to focus on others and direct the game plan

-Ability to Direct the Fastbreak

-Value each and every possession 

-Ball handling skills

-Take care of the ball

-Facilitate- make teammates better

-Situational Understanding 

-Shotmaking

To help instill these winning characteristics and skills in point guards, Drew and Morefield detail key player development drills and strategies in their Baylor Guard Development Workout and Baylor Advanced Guard Workout. 

Click here to view the full Baylor Guard Development Bundle.

Warm-Up Shootingting

In the first leg of their Baylor Guard Development series, Drew and Morefield incorporate shooting while focusing on laying the foundation for a successful point guard training workout: an efficient warm-up. 

The elbow-to-elbow shooting drill is a surefire way to ensure players are warmed up and ready to go for the rest of the workout while allowing them to get shots up simultaneously.  surefire way to ensure players are warmed up and ready to go for the rest of the workout while allowing them to get shots up simultaneously. 

The elbow-to-elbow jumper drill begins with a shooter at the elbow and a rebounder below the basket. After receiving a pass from the rebounder, the player at the elbow will take a jump-shot and immediately move to the other elbow. The key is for the shooter to be ready to receive the ball in the pocket and transition into the jump-shot without dipping the ball below the waist. 

This 30-second partner drill will get players’ legs warmed up and allow them to get some shots up without putting them under stress with long-range jumpers or full-speed movement.

Ball Screen Actionsions

Modern point guards have evolved into dynamic scorers as shown by NBA players like Steph Curry, who is known for dazzling crowds with 40-foot jump-shots. However, the primary function of the point guard position is to facilitate the offense and distribute the ball to teammates. 

Drew and Morefield detail how they develop comfortability with ball screen actions, a key offensive strategy on any offense, in their Baylor Advanced Guard Workout.

In this series, Drew and Morefield describe a series of shots they like to emphasize when coming off of wing ball screens. 

With a cone positioned at the wing representing the screener, the guard will dribble to the ball screen and come off of it with a low shoulder level. The guard will take 5 shots, 1 turning the corner for a downhill layup, 1 elbow attack pull-up jump-shot, 1 side dribble 3pt shot on both sides, and finally a screen rejection into a baseline pull-up jump-shot.

Jab Step/Shot Fake Drillrill

Modern point guards, like Kyrie Irving, have tremendous scoring ability. To be successful, a point guard has to have great on-ball skills and an ability to create their own shots. 

Drew and Morefield emphasize jab steps and shot fakes as a primary way to create separation from a defender and find open shots. The Baylor coaches develop these skills through the Jab Step/Shot Fake drill. 

This drill will begin with an aggressive v-cut to create separation from the defender. After receiving a pass, the guard will make a jab step, a shot fake, or a combination of both, and dribble into a pull-up jump-shot. This loosely guided series of 5 shots will be repeated at 5 spots on the court, both corners, both wings and the top of the key. 

“Get Open” Series es

Any winning guard has to be able to create separation from the defense with the ball and without the ball. Drew and Morefield’s L Cut, V Cut, and Straight Line Cut drill addresses this skill.  

The Drill starts with a rebounder below the basket, a coach at the top of the key, and a player at the low block or wing. The wing player will alternate between making a sharp L cut, V Cut, or straight line cut from the wing or low block. After making the cut, the coach will pass them the ball, and the player will have the autonomy to make a dribble move, jab step, or shot-fake to create separation and take a shot. 

The drill repeats for ten reps and ends with two made free throws. 

5 Spot Shootingting

In today’s game, spacing is king. Modern teams can’t rely on one-dimensional, distributing-only guards. Point guards have to be able to stretch the court with a knockdown jump-shot. tps://coachtube.com/basketball/articles/5-basketball-shooting-drills-how-to-develop-a-sharpshooter?a=f8c5a18145b44d5faaa296fab">jump-shot. 

The 5 Spot Shooting drill builds balanced shooting skills in guards across all areas of the court. -5-different-shots/2503432?a=f8c5a18145b44d5faaa296fab">5 Spot Shooting drill builds balanced shooting skills in guards across all areas of the court. The drill focuses on 5 different shots in 5 different spots around the court. 

Starting in the corner, the player will receive a pass from a rebounder positioned below the rim. The player will make a series of 5 shots: a catch and shoot 3pt shot, a hard shot fake to a baseline drive, a shot fake drive middle into a pull-up jump-shot, a shot fake 1 side-dribble 3pt shot, and finally a shot fake, 2 side-dribble pull up 3pt shot. 

The drill repeats at both wings, the top of the key, and the opposite corner. 

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