offense
Princeton Point series
Point runs through a central passer near the free-throw line. Teammates use handoffs, screen for one another, or cut behind defenders. Names such as Over, Under and Away refer to particular routes in the cited version; explain the route rather than assuming every program uses those calls the same way.
How it runs
An interior pass leads to a screen and handoff
1. Enter to the central passer
1 passes to 5 near the free-throw line, then moves toward the ball-side corner teammate, 4. 2 and 3 keep the opposite side spaced.
Notation
- Offense
- Defense
- Coach
- Neutral
- Ball
- Cone
- Cut
- Dribble
- Pass
- Screen
- Hand-off
- Shot
- Def. slide
One original Point-style screen-to-handoff illustration around a central passer. It does not assign universal Over, Under or Away routes to a coach’s local call. Defenders are omitted; captions state the chosen read. Spacing is illustrative.
Original CoachAssist teaching illustration, not a complete playbook. Arrows show the action from the displayed starting positions. Read each caption before advancing.
Reads and decisions
- If two defenders guard the ball, the central passer may be open.
- If the pass to the central player is denied, that player can come up to set a ball screen. After two teammates screen or cut around the central passer, their defenders' positions determine whether a handoff is useful.
What to emphasize
- Documented progression: walkthrough, identify the relevant defender, guided denial/trail/switch, then live defense.
How to teach it
Choose current readiness, not gender or an assumed ceiling. Simplify whenever players need it.
New to basketball
- One idea to notice: Define one Point route around the interior receiver.
- Use a manageable ball, short passing distances and a comfortable shooting range. Rehearse only one movement at a time; screening begins without contact.
- Let players explain or point to the open space. Stop for a short demonstration, then let them try again without a score or speed quota.
Level progressions are original coaching adaptations, not claims that a cited coach uses this exact sequence.
Tradeoffs, counters & terminology
- Ask which coach's Point terminology is being used. A label does not supply every player's route.
Documented coaches & teams
No verified coach or team association is established in this review. A familiar system name alone is not evidence that a particular team ran it.
Matching drills · steps and diagrams
Teaching level changes the lesson above, not these drills automatically. Check each drill’s players, equipment, skill and coaching adaptations before running it.
UCLA Cut to High-Post Entry — Supporting Breakdown
Court diagram · view the drill first
Supporting fundamental: The actual drill starts with a screen behind the passer’s defender and a UCLA cut toward the basket, then a catch near the free-throw line. It does not document Point Over, Under or Away; teach those choices separately.
A guard-to-guard pass, a screen near the free-throw line for a basket cut, and a return catch by the screener prepare the next wing decision.
5–12 players · 8–14 minutes · basketballs
Purpose
A guard-to-guard pass, a screen near the free-throw line for a basket cut, and a return catch by the screener prepare the next wing decision.
Set it up
Five attackers: two guards, two wings and a high post, one ball. Start without defenders and review legal backscreen clearance before adding opposition. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.
Run the drill
- Agree on a short timed interval and begin at walkthrough pace. Use one active ball and one group in the playing area; add controlled opposition only when players understand the routes and can stop safely.
- Pass guard to guard; the high post establishes a stationary backscreen for the original passer’s route.
- The passer uses the screen for a basket cut only after it is set, then clears if no safe pass is available.
- The screener opens back to the high post for the next pass.
- On the high-post catch, a wing reads whether to remain available or backcut into clear space.
- End the repetition on a controlled finish, dead ball or coach stop. Clear the ball and landing area before restarting; rotate roles and rest within the planned interval, without extending it to reach a target.
Scoring
Optional: within a short coach-chosen timed interval, count sound decisions, controlled catches or completed defensive possessions. Stop at the planned time or sooner; no required makes, winning streak or exercise penalty. Rotate roles and allow rest regardless of the score.
Coach the details
- This is the legacy record’s actual UCLA-entry sequence, not a verified complete Point Over, Under or Away series.
- A high-post catch is a read cue; it does not require every wing to backcut.
- Use comfortable passing and shooting distances and an appropriate ball. Progress by demonstrated control, not speed: keep eyes on the play, leave stopping/landing space, and stop if a route or loose ball creates a collision risk.
- Screens begin without contact. Establish a balanced, stationary position with the time and space required by the competition rules; keep arms in and do not lean, hold, shove or step into an approaching defender. Decline the action when legal clearance is unavailable.
Variations & provenance
- Original CoachAssist display adaptation: these edited steps, workload limits and optional scoring are coaching adaptations, not a claim that the cited author prescribed this exact version.
- Displayed title and description correct an overbroad legacy Point-series label. No new Princeton branch has been invented.
- The teaching-level selector does not automatically adapt these drills for age or ability. A coach must choose suitable roles, equipment, contact, space and progressions; simplify or defer anything the group is not ready to perform.
SLOB High-Post Split Read
Court diagram · view the drill first
Supporting fundamental: Develops a central receiver choosing teammates’ cuts, a handoff, or keeping the ball in a sideline out-of-bounds setting. Its entry is not a Princeton Point entry and should not be relabeled as one.
Connect a sideline out-of-bounds pass to teammates cutting or using a handoff around a receiver near the free-throw line.
5–15 players · 5–12 minutes · basketballs
Purpose
Connect a sideline out-of-bounds pass to teammates cutting or using a handoff around a receiver near the free-throw line.
Set it up
Inbound beside the wing. A guard moves up from beside the paint near the basket; another receiver waits near the free-throw line, with teammates on the opposite side. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.
Run the drill
- Agree on a short timed interval and begin at walkthrough pace. Use one active ball and one group in the playing area; add controlled opposition only when players understand the routes and can stop safely.
- Inbound to the guard, who passes to the receiver near the free-throw line.
- The guard and inbounder make the coach’s chosen cuts or use a handoff around that receiver; specify who screens and who cuts before starting.
- The receiver near the free-throw line reads the defense: complete the handoff, shoot, or fake the handoff and attack.
- End the repetition on a controlled finish, dead ball or coach stop. Clear the ball and landing area before restarting; rotate roles and rest within the planned interval, without extending it to reach a target.
Scoring
Optional: within a short coach-chosen timed interval, count sound decisions, controlled catches or completed defensive possessions. Stop at the planned time or sooner; no required makes, winning streak or exercise penalty. Rotate roles and allow rest regardless of the score.
Coach the details
- Declare screen/cut assignments.
- Inbounder begins outside the sideline.
- Keep a safe alternate receiver when the first action is denied.
- Use comfortable passing and shooting distances and an appropriate ball. Progress by demonstrated control, not speed: keep eyes on the play, leave stopping/landing space, and stop if a route or loose ball creates a collision risk.
- Screens begin without contact. Establish a balanced, stationary position with the time and space required by the competition rules; keep arms in and do not lean, hold, shove or step into an approaching defender. Decline the action when legal clearance is unavailable.
Variations & provenance
- Original CoachAssist display adaptation: these edited steps, workload limits and optional scoring are coaching adaptations, not a claim that the cited author prescribed this exact version.
- The teaching-level selector does not automatically adapt these drills for age or ability. A coach must choose suitable roles, equipment, contact, space and progressions; simplify or defer anything the group is not ready to perform.
- Provenance (source-based): Core teaching idea is supported by the linked public source. Coordinates, timings and rotation logistics are original SportsPlay teaching aids, not reproduced source diagrams. Coach review is required.
Sources & evidence notes
The system description and source links are reviewed references. Level progressions and evaluation ideas are original CoachAssist teaching adaptations, not tested prescriptions or a named coach’s complete playbook. Supporting drills develop ingredients; they do not automatically install the whole system.
Evidence status: variant dependent. Sources support the specific claims described here, not every possible version of the system.
- Princeton Offense Diagrams: Chin, Point, Low and Twirl
Lee DeForest · Coach Princeton Basketball · 2026-05-11
Public written coaching reference; undated unless specified. No linked paid video reviewed.
- Teaching the Princeton Offense — Point Series
Nate Hartman · Coach Nate Hartman · publication date not listed
Public written coaching reference; undated unless specified. No linked paid video reviewed.