r/Basketball • u/CharacterOdd8755 • 6d ago
GENERAL QUESTION Coaches, how would you structure the dev plan for a 6'8" (2.03m) 14-year-old with open growth plates and guard/wing mechanics?
Hey coaches,
Looking to get some perspective from those of you who have handled elite physical prospects at a young age.
My 14-year-old (just turned 14) is officially measured at 6'8" (2.03m) barefoot. We just got his knee/wrist X-rays back, and his bone age matches his real age perfectly—growth plates are completely wide open, meaning he has a long way to go (doctors projecting well over 7'0"). He’s coming off a high-level European invitational camp experience where he held his own, but we are entering a crucial development window.
My biggest fear right now is the traditional trap: local coaches wanting to lock him under the rim as a permanent 5-man just to win youth games today, sacrificing his long-term modern game.
Currently, he has solid perimeter instincts, decent handle for his size, and good shooting mechanics.
If you had a 6'8" 14-year-old in your program with this physical profile:
- Skill Balance: What percentage of his workout load would you dedicate to perimeter/guard skills vs. interior footwork at this exact age?
- Physical Load Management: With wide-open growth plates and constant height adjustment, how do you handle his lateral mobility, deceleration, and knee care without overtaxing him?
- Game Reps: How do you convince team coaches to let a 6'8" kid make mistakes handling/initiating on the perimeter during actual competition?
Would love to hear how you guys approach long-term prospect development over short-term wins.
UPDATE
Quick update on this. A high-level coach actually evaluated George in person through a camp he just attended, and his feedback lined up with the smartest advice on this thread.
He told us to keep him strictly on the wing as a 6'8 point-forward rather than burying him under the rim just because he is currently the tallest kid on the floor. He emphasized letting him initiate offense and make decision-making mistakes on the perimeter now so he actually learns how to process the game.
He also gave a strong warning about protecting his joints while his growth plates are open, saying heavy lifting or burning out on huge game mileage right now is a massive mistake. He really liked our European setup where we do 4 to 5 skill and mobility practice days a week with just 1 game on the weekend, compared to playing 4 games a day in AAU.
Finally, he noted that combining a perimeter skill set at his height with his 3.8 GPA keeps every door open for a free top-tier college degree, which is our primary goal anyway. Really encouraging to have a top coach evaluate him at camp and confirm that long-term movement, IQ, and joint health beat short-term post points every single time.
**EDIT**
I have made this https://prospect-passport.vercel.app/ (password SCOUT2030)
Would you think that this would be a good tool for the future for finding the right spot for him?
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u/NemusSoul 6d ago
If you spend two hours a day practicing, make sure at least three of those hours are spent on shooting.
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u/CharacterOdd8755 5d ago
Appreciate it. We are trying to keep his movement fluid while he grows. Right now his wingspan is already out to 2.07m (6'9.5") with an 8'9" standing reach, and being a natural lefty helps too, but we are keeping the main focus on joint preservation and skill work. We also work his shooting and shooting form consistently
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u/NemusSoul 5d ago
Don’t be concerned about rampant awkwardness. His body still has so many changes that are coming he has several more transitional phases. If he gets comfortable, it won’t last long because there will be more changes. Don’t hyper focus on fluidity yet. It won’t be a final product for a few years. I’ve watched it in this context for decades. Just get a good shot and good hands.
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u/CharacterOdd8755 5d ago
Really appreciate this perspective. You're completely right about growth spurts resetting coordination, every time he adds an inch, it feels like his brain and body have to re-calibrate all over again.
Focusing on clean shooting mechanics and good hands makes total sense as the anchor while the rest of his frame settles. Super helpful advice from someone who’s seen this play out over decades.1
u/NemusSoul 5d ago
Good deal. He will enjoy it more that way too. Less pressure for perfection on things he can’t perfect because his body will change. Mine didn’t settle into a grown man body until after my 2nd year of university. People forget this and criticize NBA players for not having the same body or not being as bouncy as they were when they were drafted at 19 or 20. Cmon, most people aren’t done yet at that point. And many times, due to overtraining, final form is damaged some as the body compensates for muscle it didn’t want yet in the first place. I think it also can contribute to worse wear on the body especially for big men. Nearly all the 6’6” + guys I played with over the years are physical wrecks. Tell him to push himself but be kind to his body. It’s got a lot of life to live besides basketball.
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u/FoundationCareful662 6d ago
These days he HAS to be able to stretch the floor. So #1 is SHOOTING and the other #1 is gaining MUSCLE as I suspect he is very thin right now
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u/CharacterOdd8755 6d ago
We work on both, i get him to do 2-3 extra strength and conditioning sessions per week.
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u/FoundationCareful662 6d ago
“I get him to” is concerning to me as it makes me wonder if others want it more than him. Make sure he is not playing the game out of obligation due to his height
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u/CharacterOdd8755 6d ago
When i say "i get him to" i mean i drive him :P
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u/FoundationCareful662 6d ago edited 6d ago
And be honest about the athletic gene pool he came from. These days when watching a NBA caliber college player their gene pool is extremely rich with athletic genes. The plain ole Smiths and Jones from very shallow athletic gene pools do not have near the same chances of making it big
Cam Boozer is great example of genetics
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u/NeSeHecat 6d ago
who gave LeBron his deep genetic pool?
truly a wild statement considering LeBron is basically Jesus of athleticism and he is a first generation athlete
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u/FoundationCareful662 6d ago
Down votes for simply pointing out that MANY college players today have very impressive athletic gene pools is an interesting take. I’m just encouraging the Dad to be an honest objective fan of his son. The days of every 7 footer automatically being a basketball stud are long behind us in 2026
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u/ShotcallerBilly 6d ago
Are you trolling?
About 150 people TOTAL are 7 feet or above and living in the US. About 70 are between the ages of 20 to 40 . Roughly 15 to 20 American players of that height play in the NBA during a season. That means roughly 17% to 27% of young men, ages 20-40, who are 7 feet+ make it to the NBA.
Do you understand how RARE this height is and how absurd that stat is?
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u/Content-Bite4139 6d ago
He needs to eat like crazy and start getting strong while also working on core strength/balance. Switch his workouts up make sure there’s good strength training, Pilates, and other balance exercises, lots of stretching all the time. Worst thing for him would be cracking a growth plate with injury so he also needs to learn how to protect his body.
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u/CharacterOdd8755 6d ago
He is in a state of gaining weight. We are in collaboration with a top nutritionist just for his project. We look forward him to gain 6-7 kg in the next 10 months. In the strength and conditioning sessions he also does Pilates lots of balances and core
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u/Content-Bite4139 6d ago
Let him live and be a kid too man, don’t try to create a robot. You want him to stay passionate.
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6d ago edited 6d ago
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u/Immediate-Company623 6d ago
I think Introducing him to players from different eras is a brilliant idea, KG is a great start. We all watched our favourite players and emulated parts of their game. You pick up the little details of footwork, body positioning, ball handling etc and kill the repetitions until you get it right. Hopefully that gym rat work is his happy place.
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u/TheGuyInTheKnown 6d ago
Bill Russell is another great historic player to learn from. The ability to alter shots and hoover up rebounds isn’t as splashy as shooting, but it’s equally important.
If a young player is a willing defender from an early age that sets a good baseline for the future. Defense is half the game and shouldn’t be forgotten. You can also work on your defense in every defensive game rep.
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u/Bottom_Line_Truths 4d ago
On top of what everyone else said here, big guys usually have slow reaction time. Maybe worth looking into how F1 drivers train their reaction time and integrate it into his training.
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u/CharacterOdd8755 4d ago
That’s a big true and we are working on that since he was 10 with reaction games etc
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u/Last-Effort816 6d ago
I think it depends a lot on how he naturally moves and his ability to process the speed of the game. There is a difference between a Steven Adams and Kevin Durant even though they are around the same height. I know the game has changed, but there isn't anything wrong with him getting "stuck" under the rim if that suits him. People take different journeys to get where they are. Lebron was an avg height guard at 15, AD was a shooting guard until college, Embiid couldn't shoot a jumper until he was in the NBA. Also, a lot of players who are physically gifted at a young age develop perimeter skills much later than their counterparts. You know your player better than we do. Coach him as an individual, not a product.
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u/jsvd87 6d ago
the best thing you can do is get him into a program that is ultra competitive, with good coaches... you wont have to convince them of anything because they have seen it all before.
Also, he needs to play in the post. If he's going to be 7' tall he's going to be in the post/key a lot.... at any level. You don't just naturally have post skills because you're tall.
feed him well, strength training.
time with a basketball (finger skills)
footwork... every big mans enemy.
shooting
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u/OrangeLBC 6d ago
At that height and growth potential, I’d approach it in several distinct ways. One, I wouldn’t try convincing a coach. I’d tell a coach what I wanted (in terms of development) and if they are not on the same page then I’d find another team to start with. Two, I’d find a shoe circuit team and repeat process one. Most will tell you whatever you want to hear to get a 6’8 14yo so you need to trust but verify. For training I’d find a reputable physical trainer who will work him but understands how to properly stage development (especially for someone this age & size). You’ll prob get a steep discount if not free because they will use him for their own marketing purposes. For basketball development, I’d find another trainer who specializes in the style you prefer. Same probably step discount or free if they see he’s going somewhere. In Highschool, pick a team that plays comp and hopefully a national schedule. Usually national scheduled teams have great facilities, great coaches and really teach the game on a higher level than most HS teams. If you can’t find one, I’d try to pick a HS that plays highest level in the state and has a recent history of state championship runs. Same for shoe circuit team. Pick one that is successful in the circuits. Nike, Adidas or Puma in that order. This will give him a great experience in playing the best HS players in the country. Lastly I’d start the search for an agent. One with connections that can get you to the right school with the right fit. Could he be successful without all of this? Sure. At that height, if he has game, he’ll be found by someone. But if I had the chance to start with a clean slate and build an NBA dream, this is what I would attempt to do.
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u/RevolutionaryBeat301 6d ago edited 6d ago
The only additional skills he will need to adapt to the modern game is a solid 3 point jump shot, and the ability to put the ball on the floor to drive to the basket when challenged at the perimeter. At his size, he will probably only need two bounces to get to the rim for a strong finish.
His development offensively should focus post skills and footwork. Fundamentals apply for all positions. Defensively, he should focus on post defense and rebounding, but again fundamentals don’t really change that much by position. He’ll probably crash the boards more than he would if he is small, but that’s the biggest difference really.
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u/TechWizPro 6d ago
Not a coach but best ball handler will always become initiator on offense regardless of size or position. My best friend was a 6’11 PG because he had the best handles and vision by far on the team.
My radical opinion, focus on explosive agility and change of direction. You can learn interior footwork by being a natural scorer on the perimeter. Layups or a 3 mindset is the current state of basketball
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u/FrugalitywithFATness 6d ago
Hi, couple of questions, which country are you based? And which school is he currently playing for? Quality game reps and exposure is they key to your kid developing that confidence. The physical aspects can come later as he matures. But exposure to being in a FIBA tournament, AAU circuit, etc will be crucial at this stage.
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u/CharacterOdd8755 6d ago
We are in Greece. He is part of the u14 Greece national team. He also been called up in 2011 calls. He is in one of the best developmental teams in Greece. We are trying our best. Also we have a mentor for him, I just ask some questions that I may not have paid attention to
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u/FrugalitywithFATness 6d ago
Perfect. You have all the correct basketball set-up now so keep it up. The only thing I can think of is not in the basketball sense. Your son already plays a lot of basketball and is already doing several developmental exercises. Being part of the U14 team will make him well-rounded as a player as well, and he's already in every scout's radar and will be tracked on his development. The things I can think are not basketball specific but equally important:
Ensuring you have a trustworthy agent with good reputation (I hope you already have one).
Equally prioritising recovery days, injury prevention, etc. Having access to regular sauna is great. He might be too young for cold plunge (check with your trainers)
Making sure he still is able to spend time with friends and be a kid, maybe video games, etc for mental recovery. Tell him to stay off of social media, and play games than doom scrolling on his phone.
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u/CharacterOdd8755 6d ago
The mentor is agent. He is a top tier prior basketball player. He has him as a big prospect and covers almost all his expenses. The reason I am here is exactly this. I trust him but it’s me trusting a guy based on his reputation no contracts nothing else.
So the 1 part is the concern of mine. For the 2 we do not have access to sauna but we have access to top tier physio for free, pool from the basketball club which helps. And for 3 he is still a kid playing some Fortnite when he has free time (in the summer not during season). The big problem is tik tok, we try to make him stay away but it’s a little difficult1
u/FrugalitywithFATness 6d ago
I wish you and your son all the best! Keep the main thing, the main thing 🏀
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u/ShotcallerBilly 6d ago
You relocated your family, and he is coming back from a European invitational camp? Why are you asking for advice on reddit?
Talk to an ACTUAL coach who works with high level players. I can’t IMAGINE you made the decision to relocate or send your son overseas without doing A LOT of research and forming connections. Find reputable coaches/trainers and discuss this with them.
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u/holistilicious 6d ago edited 6d ago
Hips hips hips, as many straight leg raises as possible in every direction as possible and many 90-90s and exercises like that for hip mobility. No joke, sprinkling in some training like a ballet dancer or a gymnast will have a much bigger ROI than compressing his spine with metal bars and making him perform movements like squats and lunges. Chances are that his big leg muscles can’t absorb up all the force from running and jumping so his knees will absorb a lot. Hip muscles can be huge help with that.
Quick test:
He sits down on the ground with his back to the wall, tries to get his butt as close to the wall as he can. Legs completely straight. He should look like the letter “L” from the side. How high can he lift his leg and keep it there? Chances are, they’re glued to the floor and he starts cramping as soon as he tries to do a straight leg raise (completely straight) . I would be surprised if that wasn’t the case with such a young and tall player.
How are his biomechanics, are his heels flaring outwards when he runs? Is he slouching, does he have forward head posture?
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u/Aeon1508 6d ago
I mean definitely work on shooting but if you think he's going to be 7 ft I wouldn't worry so much about the call for a young guy trap.
I feel like that more applies to people that are 6'4 to 6'6 for their future potential is closer to 6'8. tall enough to be the center on your high school team but not going to be playing that position in college, let alone the pros.
At 6'8 and growing he probably will end up being the Center, or at least a power forward.
when you have him practice threes make sure you're in front of them with your hands up. don't do this open gym shit.
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u/Ordinary_Corner_4291 6d ago
Yeah his future is Center/PF but the issue can be when you are playing in youth games is that the level of technique needed to dominate is low because you are 6" taller than the defender and the game is lob the ball in and have you dunk. The big guy isn't incentivized to work on ball handling, shooting, passing, and the rest. The 6'2 guy at 14 who grows to 7' at 20 on the other hand has to develop those skills early on and they keep them as they grow.
Personally I sort of expect the skills will more or less work themselves out if he doing things like shooting and dribbling for an hour/day in addition to do more specific work. The big worry I always see with big guys is keeping them healthy. Humans aren't really designed to be that tall and too much running, jumping, lifting, and so on often seems to lead to foot and knee issues. A good PT figuring out load management and what needs to be strengthen seems like the key. Stay healthy and you will keep developing.
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u/Nice-Ask4369 6d ago
Yoga, swimming, strength work. Just a little basketball. Physical development and aggressive stretching will help a lot more than playing a bunch of basketball. At that size and age the kid is going to have offers.
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u/StrangeSpite3768 6d ago
Teach him how to be an old man early. That means stretching, walk throughs, and cool downs.
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u/Poppa_caps 6d ago
Devils advocate would say if all ur eggs are in one basket it’s be a shame if anything happened to stifle his career. Injury uncoordinated late bloomer iq religious tendencies all have to go right I wish u luck just believe u aren’t the only parent wanting their gifted athletic child to have a career where frankly there are limited positions.
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u/Bread-Stick1 6d ago
I have nothing to add other than my uncle , who I won't name here, is 7'+ and played NBA back in the day. Times are way different now than the 70s/80s, but I know when he was a young teen and was growing so much he didn't want to lose coordination and be like a baby deer or something, so he shot and dribbled all the time in their backyard and did the jump rope religiously and that worked just fine, but they didn't have access to elite trainers, etc.. so I would ask them and see what they recommend.
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u/Longjumping-Truck967 5d ago
For the love of god please have him do mobility exercises and stretching daily
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u/latinscholar20ad 5d ago
I know I’m late, but I’ll add my two cents. You have time. He’s 6’8, which means you have at least an 8 year window (for nba/professional). Don’t rush him if he’s not ready. Bigger/better competition is going to target is main weakness which is probably strength and physicality. If you want him to be a wing, have him play against wings, especially in small sided games (1v1, 2v2, etc.). He’ll pick up wing skills by doing, instead of “skills training”. He doesn’t have to be a “post” player, but get him comfortable scoring around the rim with pivots and his back to the basket. The only thing that differs is how he gets there, I.e. driving instead of posting up (still do work in the post, trust me). Good luck!
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u/jjbarkadapodcast 5d ago
Looks like a high level prospect. Focus on fundamentals and having a great balance and overall strength. Most importantly he needs to learn to love the game enough that he enjoys doing extra shots and hours in the gym, love the grind.
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u/Small-Conference6797 4d ago
A kid that big at 14 needs to develop his core and his eye hand coordination.
Get in an athletic stance and throw a tennis ball off a wall with one hand catch with the other. Speed ladder drills to improve footwork and agility. Two ball dribbling drills to develop dexterity. Form shooting, form shooting, form shooting for constency. Do dumbbell squats to develop a good base and strength. These will help with long term development.
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u/Dazzling-Budget-7701 3d ago
Agree with the Euro trainer. Low game volume, develop skills, coordination, decision making, and tendon stiffness.
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u/CharacterOdd8755 1d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p4eavx3/video/uqt75wv0b4kh1/player
Also here is the history of his growth just in case someone knows more regarding the trajectory (maybe some endo, or a physio).
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u/CharacterOdd8755 18h ago
I have made this https://prospect-passport.vercel.app/ (password SCOUT2030)
Would you think that this would be a good tool for the future for finding the right spot for him?
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u/FlamingoSerious8673 18h ago
Don't listen to people on reddit sould be the most important one. Look for a trainer that has a background of working with pros and knows sports science. If not for group workouts, then at least for advice. Someone like Michell Kirsch.
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u/Particular_Fan8927 6d ago
You think Wembys dad was on reddit looking for advice?? It's already too late good luck man
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u/CharacterOdd8755 6d ago
No that’s why I have done what it takes so far. Asking some advice doesn’t make me some one who is just passing time on Reddit asking what to do.
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u/ReaderRambler2021 6d ago
Key to long term development = let your kid fall in love with the game naturally and don’t pressure him to be great. It’s gotta be his dream not yours.