“I do think it’ll be a fun style for our fans. They’ll enjoy it. It will be up and down. Will it be the fastest in the country? I doubt it, but it certainly will be fun,” Ryan Odom, UVA Head Men's Coach
Hey Reader!
This summer has been a wild ride, to say the least.
I've had the chance to work out at schools from all levels of college basketball: a JUCO (Raritan Valley), a D3 school (Montclair St.), two mid-majors (Colgate, Lafayette), two high-majors (UVA, UNC), and an Ivy League school (Harvard). Some of these workouts have been on my own, some with other coaches and players, but they have all been great experiences.
One of my closest friends, Henry, is now a grad assistant at the University of Virginia. This is a great opportunity for him to begin his coaching career, so I wanted to see him at work. On my way to North Carolina to train and play in a pro-am, I decided to make a pit stop at UVA.
Henry took me through a workout in the morning, but what was even cooler was that I got to watch a team practice in the afternoon. So, here’s what stood out to me watching from the sidelines:
High Energy in the Gym
From the start of warmups, there was a buzz in the gym. The gym was blasting music, guys were dancing and laughing, but most importantly, they were talking. There was constant communication throughout the entire practice, which created an intense, high-energy environment.
“1% Better” Mentality
Right at the start, coaches talked about getting just 1% better every day. I’ve heard that phrase a lot, but hearing it at a high-major program was inspiring. Even at the top level, the goal isn't to become a champion overnight, but to make small, daily improvements.
Loud Communication
I already mentioned the talking, but these guys were loud. It wasn't always technical basketball talk. Sometimes it was just noise and energy, but it was always at a high volume. Loud communication keeps everyone engaged and on the same page.
Attention to Detail
They ran a passing drill where coaches called "balls" or "strikes." If a pass wasn’t perfect, the team got a “ball,” and after four, everyone did pushups. It’s a simple but effective way to build the habit of making sharp, accurate passes. It shows how much they value attention to detail in every part of the game.
Drive to Score
During a drill designed to practice passing against a help defender, the coaches were yelling, "DRIVE TO SCORE FIRST!" They want players to be threats, not robots. The goal is to look for your own shot first and then make the read to pass if the opportunity isn't there. It’s a great reminder not to be too passive!
Quick Thinking
Drills were explained quickly, and practice moved fast. I was impressed by how the players were able to listen the first time a coach said something and move from one drill to the next without the coaches needing to repeat themselves. I think being a great listener is an underrated skill.
Playing Fast and Shooting Threes
The biggest thing I noticed about their offense (it’s only the summer) is they want to play fast and shoot a lot of threes. That’s the direction the game is heading at every level. If you want to play college basketball, you should be able to do both.
Overall, it was a very cool experience, and it made me want to lace up my shoes and get on the floor with them!
Brussels Basketball, BNXT Pro League
P.S. I'd love to talk to you about your game! Schedule a 1-on-1 mentoring session at HackingHoops.com and let me help you reach your potential.
