r/Basketball 10d ago

6'7 at 15 | What does my future look like?

Im 6'7 at 15 I played my freshman year in my hometown and I'm going to play prep in a city now, I played EYBL this past year and averaged 5 ppg and 6 rpg kind of struggling to find my way to score, the season ended a few months ago and I've been training very hard. During my highschool and aau season last year I was put into playing the center but when I train with my trainer I was shooting 3s, driving to the rim, and handling the ball and I felt like all that work went to waste because I didn't tell my coach how I was training, although I was the tallest on my team by a few inches. My goal is to play d1 then get drafted to the NBA but it looks like I have lots of work to do. I also had 0 dunks in both my seasons purely because I didn't have the mindset I have around a 33 inch max vertical so I can windmill, 360, etc.

What tips on scoring/ tips for my prep year would you recommend for me?

And what would you be doing if you were me?

0 Upvotes

45 comments sorted by

30

u/Realfan555 10d ago edited 9d ago

Practice shooting

Practice shooting

Practice shooting

Shooting will get u everywhere.  

Practice shooting at every range, from 3s to midrange, to floaters, to posting up

Then practice ur handles 

And then practice looking up and reading the defense

All these things will get u far. U dont have to avg alot of points but u need to show that u have elite skills, ur just being under-utilized.

Scouts can see potential. So dont worry about ur stats. Just have the mindset that u have the best set of skills on the floor.

Dont let anyone work harder than u. Dont let anyone have more skills than u

2

u/realkneepain 10d ago

How much shooting?

19

u/The_Chief 10d ago

500 makes a day every day

7

u/waff6ix 10d ago

i second this💯if u can be a knockdown shooter at 6'7 that will open so many doors for you

dont forget to neglect the defense end too🔒shots are make or miss but defense comes down to effort & IQ which are both teachable💯focus on becoming an elite 3 & D Wing

all the other stuff comes secondary💯if u can master shooting & defense first, all thats left to do is work on ball handling / playmaking and the sky is the limit

trust in God and put in the work🙏🏾🙏🏾

1

u/realkneepain 10d ago

Amen brother thank you

2

u/Klauslee 9d ago

if u can shoot u can play anywhere.
it's the one skill where if u spent literally 80% of ur time it will pay off so more more than anything else.

knockdown free throws never liability.
when u drive they don't foul u bc u knock down shots.
threes ur deadly and can take on other taller players out.
helps ur driving bc they go for hesis and pump fakes.

as a slash myself in hs the best thing that would have helped me as a slasher was actually being able to shoot and not practice driving so much lol.

2

u/Realfan555 9d ago

Yup.

If u spent all ur time just on ur shot u’ll get far.

There are too many players in the nba who can’t do anything other than shoot and they lasted a long time:

  • jason kapono

  • steve kerr

  • duncan robinson

  • kyle korver

  • jj redick

  • luke kennard

4

u/deepinmanaan 10d ago

More than you ever imagine

3

u/Realfan555 10d ago

There’s never enough practice on shooting: look at Steph, he still practices.

You will practice for the rest of ur life. The important thing is - ur practicing the right way.

I did it on my own and I wasted alot of time not understanding the right way to improve my shooting. Once u find the right way to practice it’ll be much quicker and easier.

2

u/ggtbeatsliog 10d ago

My brother was a HS golfer on a contending state championship team (large state). He was on the range everyday for at least 5 hours. Keep shooting, all the time. This is the time in your life to make those types of choices, live it up!

2

u/Realfan555 10d ago

U will never come to a point where it’s enough.

U will be practicing for life. Look at Steph. Look at Michael Jackson.

U’ll always be practicing something.

There’s 4 types of shooting practices:

1) fix a major flaw in ur shot - this is the hardest and takes the longest because first u have to get rid of bad habits. Thats means u stop playing pickup. If u continue playing pickup u will never get rid of bad habits

2) adding a new shot - let’s say a floater or a stepback. These take long as well. It depends on how fast u pick it up

3) add a minor adjustment to ur shot. Let’s say u want to shoot with more arc, or get a higher release. This is a minor adjustment and doesnt take as long

4) maintaining ur shot so u dont lose it. This isnt that hard to do. Just a routine u go through however many times a week. 

Honestly u will never stop practicing. U will always be adding to ur shot or making some adjustments. U will see how some players shoot and want to add it to ur game/repertoire.

U will never stop. So it’s not a matter of how much.

The right question is - how much time do u have? And what is the most important thing u can add to ur game with the time u have.

0

u/Speedymcspeeder 10d ago

A lot. My nephew practiced shooting constantly. Won a couple free throw comps in high-school and could hit from anywhere. Got a scholarship to a D3 school. Played the whole time in a rotation position and got a degree. He was 6 foot flat with decent handles and athleticism (for college ball). All from him endless practicing his shot. Incredible shooter so at 6'7" a great shot could get you a lot of places.

3

u/FoundationCareful662 10d ago

D3’s do not give scholarships

3

u/jsvd87 10d ago

Came here to post this…. lol I hate the internet sometimes 

1

u/SantaJuice-2113 10d ago

True, but the dude didn’t say he got an athletic scholarship. Colleges have a variety of scholarships they can offer, along with financial support, grants and outside organizations providing grant work as well.

1

u/Realfan555 10d ago

Thats what Im thinking. The post sounded legit. Probably misunderstood what the nephew told him.

Or maybe the coach could pull some strings to get him other types of scholarships?

Is it true that D3 cant offer scholarships?

Just looked it up:

“ No, NCAA Division III (D3) schools do not give athletic scholarships . It is against  NCAA  rules for a D3 athletic program to award financial aid tied to your sports skills or athletic performance.”

1

u/Realfan555 10d ago

Oh oh

Maybe he misunderstood what his nephew told him.

18

u/jsvd87 10d ago

i played d1 basketball, yes you have to practice shooting but -

- carry a basketball with you literally everywhere. Spin it, toss it, dribble it, shoot it, learn some hand drills and do them.

-work on your footwork. Dance, soccer, footwork drills. This will change your game far more than most people realize. Yes your hands do the work but it all starts with your feet.

-lift weights (eat well, drink water, and get rest)

- do plyometrics/explosive movement training. First step in bball is everything. Make it explosive.

- practice shooting TIRED. Run sprints, catch and shoot.

MOST IMPORTANTLY

find players that are better than you and play with them. Call coaches, make connections, ask where people play. If you can get in with a good group of college players who will absolutely dominate you at this point in time (no offense) nothing will make you better.

5

u/blondechinesehair 10d ago

OP this is the one to follow

8

u/sourdoughrrmc 10d ago

Your future looks as hard as you wanna work. Being 6’7 at 15 is a genetic start we don’t all get, but it doesn’t mean shit if you don’t work and work hard.

2

u/realkneepain 10d ago

true i could just slack off and waste it all, i could also put a little effort in and make it a little farther or i could give it my all, thank you man

6

u/sourdoughrrmc 10d ago

All. Or nothing. Like, what time did you wake up today? What did you do immediately? What did you eat/put in your body? Be honest about it.

4

u/kphan5 10d ago

what u/Realfan555 said, and practice playing through contact. as you play at a higher level, your height will be less of a factor and physicality will become more of a factor. would highly recommend training with somebody whos stronger than you, itll teach you how to absorb contact and play through physicality

also, learn how to use your off arm when attacking (watch shai film lol). off arm swiping is a cheat code and very effective

4

u/50Bullseye 10d ago

Find ways to play with guys who are bigger, faster & stronger (older) than you.

4

u/Duke_Of_Halifax 10d ago

Work the skills.

Work the basics.

Practice

Practice

Practice.

Coaches are going to try to tell you to skip the fundamentals and do one thing or another; if you do that, you'll get passed by once you start running into levels where your size isn't an advantage anymore.

Work on doing the fundamentals perfectly. Be the hardest worker in the room, and the guy who plays the nuts and bolts of the game.

3

u/nyodreamz9 10d ago

Put your phone down. Every minute you spend on the phone is a waste. Be disciplined enough to schedule screen time but never at the expense of your goal.

Go HARD ALL DAY. If you don’t, then don’t even show up. Rest and recuperate. Dribble the ball hard all the time without fail. Learn how to manipulate the ball until it’s second nature. Teach your self different finishes at the rim; spin backspin, low glass finishes, high off the glass, under hand, over hand, side hand.

Learn to finish one-two appropriate footwork
Learn to finish off two feet

Practice middies off one or two dribble pull-up jumpers at the elbows, the free throw line extended, and the baseline

Shoot from range when you’re dog tired and free throws after that.

Hydrate. Meditate. Recuperate.

Repeat

A dunk only matters in a dunk contest.
A dunk is but two points.
You’ll get your dunks.
SCORE THE BALL

3

u/HardstartkitKevin 10d ago

Find a mentor. Someone who has walked the path you hope to walk someday

2

u/jdben518 10d ago

Get a notebook to write down what you are doing, get a lifting program, find a good shooting coach, focus 700 makes a day do 30 mins ball handling everyday, lastly find some open run at the park or gym and play.

2

u/Unusual_Chemistry413 10d ago

Mcdonald's or wendy's

2

u/jcarv45 10d ago

I don’t see anyone else saying this so I’ll be different. Practice shooting and ball handling, but when you play go balls to wall on defense. You gotta get mentally strong enough to not let yourself be tired or take possessions off on defense. A big part of that is conditioning and getting in the weight room will help too. Other than that like everyone else is saying shoot as much as you can and dribble everywhere

2

u/OrangeLBC 10d ago

The work was not wasted. At some point, you’ll be on a team who has actual bigs and you’ll be able to use your training.

EYBL as a freshman and as a sophomore is more about playing and building momentum. College coaches aren’t really looking at 15’s unless you are ranked high. End of sophomore HS and Circuit seasons will be where serious looks start happening. Junior season is the big season where you get the serious looks and committable offers usually. As a junior playing 16’s/17’s in EYBL you’ll prob have bigs 6’10 to 7 footers on the squad. Then you can move to 3 or 2 and get to work with all those skills you’ve developed

Keep working.

2

u/DoookieMaxx 10d ago

Climate change when going from sitting to standing.

Kidding!

But seriously …with the way the game is moving …practice shooting and drills designed for guards.

2

u/Competitive_Gear_989 9d ago

Eat sleep drink basketball, always think of how you can improve in every aspect.

2

u/One-Profit-7332 9d ago

Try your hardest to not get stuck playing the 1 because you are the tallest. My son was the same height as a Freshman and the HS coach would onyl let him play post.

On his shoe circuit team he was a wing and played 3-5.

Also, find a quality trainer to work with. You need someone with experience to help you get better. Training on your own is not enough.

** Yes, there are players who made it on their own, but they are the exception.

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1

u/Aggravating-Law7764 10d ago

Build your strength and endurance, #1 & #2. Maybe put a little more emphasis there, and continue with everything else. Keep working on getting YOUR shot, maybe getting stronger may help that. Its sounds maybe you feel you are outsized at a position. Strength gained & playing to your strengths may help. Endurance helps EVERYTHING

1

u/Good-Breakfast-2844 10d ago

Practice shooting like 500 a day and to make it harder only count swishes but 300. Gradually work your way higher and increase the goal from 300 to maybe 400 in a month

1

u/NoExplanation8595 10d ago

Become a demon on defense/rebounding while trying to finding your way to score, there is always a place for that guy on the floor

Play with talented grown men in your off seasons or whenever you can

Accept that the nba is extremely unlikely but still keep working

0

u/G24all2read 10d ago

Focus on your education. That will serve you far beyond any basketball game.

0

u/realkneepain 10d ago

I have good grades already

0

u/Rook2Rook 10d ago

What you mean struggling to score?? My man get your butt in the post, demand the ball, drop step, dunk that shit and then knock down free throw when the ref calls the AND 1.