Steve Smith

High Scoring Transition Game

Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................2
Player Spacing .....................................................................................................................................................2
Regular ................................................................................................................................................................2
Dribble Entry ...................................................................................................................................................3
Two .................................................................................................................................................................4
Three ...............................................................................................................................................................4
FIST..................................................................................................................................................................4
Free Throw Transition ........................................................................................................................................5
Sideline ...........................................................................................................................................................5
Drills ....................................................................................................................................................................5
5 Man Break Drill ............................................................................................................................................5
Ladder Sprints .................................................................................................................................................6
Finishing Practice ............................................................................................................................................6
Introduction
Steve Smith is the head basketball coach at the prestigious Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. It is a private
boarding school. The video is a clinic he is giving on what he calls full court offense. Last few years his
teams have averaged 90 plus points per game. They run their full court offense 90% of the game. They
have sets they go to but full court offense is their bread and butter. The keys to their success in the
transition game is their ability to defend and rebound.

Player Spacing
Both post players are interchangeable. First post player gets to the rim and second post player is the
trailer. Trailer is one step behind the ball. The first post player is the rim man and the most important part
of the break. The two wings are interchangeable. He does not insist that the two guard run the right side
of the floor. The point guard runs the middle of the floor and should know what everybody is doing. Point
guard is always looking to pass the ball ahead up to the wings and not always dribble the length of the
floor.

Regular
Unless they call a set play from the bench they are running what they call regular in their full court offense.
They don’t verbally say regular it is just something they do by default. Point guard follows the ball to
whatever side he pitches it ahead. Trailer always fills opposite. They tell their rim runner to stay in the
lane like 5 seconds. In transition he feels like you get this much time. The rim runner is always your first
option. They like to reverse the ball once give the rim runner a look. When the ball is reversed, the low
post player then comes to the foul line and sets a pick for the point guard and trailer. They scissor cut off
the high post with the point guard going first. The post player then steps out to the top of the key and
takes the ball reversal. Wing then screens down and looks to post up. Ball goes to one wing and the
opposite side sets a back screen out top for a lob look.
 1 4
5 5

3 2 3 2 3 2
5

1 1
4 4

First option on regular is ball Second option is a scissors cut off High post then steps out for ball
beversal looking to feed the rim the high post. The PG cuts first reversal.
runner near the basket area. and the trailer second.

1 4
3 4 3 5

3 2 1 2 1 2

5 5 4

Ball goes back to PG looking to 4 backscreens for 5 looking for Simple motion then continues.
post up 3. possible lob play.

Dribble Entry
If the point guard ends up dribble up the floor and can’t hit the wing, then the rim runner steps out and
back screens the wing. The wing the heads back out top also getting a screen from the trailer. Wing
catches ball out top and reverses it. Opposite post comes high and they form a high low. Everything in
regular ends with a high low.

4
5 5 5
2
3 2 3 3
1 1
4
2

1
4

Double back screen action Backscreen out top. Hi Low action

Two
This is a lob play for the trailer. Instead of the trailer screening down for the wing on the dribble entry, the
wing comes up and sets a back screen for the trailer.

3 2

1
4

Three
This is your standard three point shot for one of the wings. Point kicks to one wing. The opposite wing
goes to the block and then comes off a staggered double with the trailer and the point guard. In his
particular system whenever they throw the ball up the left side they always run three.

3
5 5
4
3 2
1 2

1
4

FIST

Is a high ball screen with the trailer and PG. Post player goes to the side the PG is going to. First option is
looking for a lost post feed. Opposite wing sets a back screen for the screener on the ball screen. Next
option is a lob. PG can also continue to wing and do a handoff for a 3 or penetrating drive.
 5 5 5 4

3 2 3 2 3

1 1 2
4
1
4

Free Throw Transition

They will huddle and they will call what they are running here. In their LA formation they line up as
follows. Both post players have the blocks. Wings are at half court in the corners. Point guard is on the
lane and has block out assignment for the shooter. They run a sideline break out of this and some set
plays like the Three play above.

Sideline
This is their sideline break off a made or missed free throw. Both wings are at half court. On transition
weak side wing flies to the strong side corner. PG passes up the sideline to the strong side wing just pass
half court who then hits the wing in the corner. First post player down is the rim runner and the other is
the trailer. They also run a flex cut out of this if not shot from the corner and no post entry.

2 2
5 4 5 5

3
3
2
3 4 1 4 1

Drills
5 Man Break Drill
They do five trips in 25 seconds. Each trip is a layup. All five players must make one of the layups.
Ladder Sprints
He actually never does the traditional ladder sprints or suicides. All the conditioning he does is with a
basketball.

Finishing Practice
He usually finishes practice with some kind of shooting or free throw drill.

Email : ssmith@oak-hill.net