Q’s Fundamentally Sound – player notes
The fundamentals of basketball are the MOST important thing to master because they will make you and your team better no matter what age level or team you play for.
There’s a good reason that the best college and NBA basketball coaches in the world spend the majority of their practices on fundamentals.
A fundamentally sound player is one who has mastered the most basic skills needed for the game, e.g. shooting, ball handling, passing, rebounding and defending.
A fundamentally sound player .. is one who does not crack under pressure, no matter how big it is. The player has the determination, the mind, and the skill to overcome the obstacles. One who can play without making many mistakes. Dribbling, passing, shooting, and the awareness come into play with that player. One who is not selfish. One who will give the ball away in the final seconds to a player who is open, regardless if the shot falls or not.
6’2 senior guard Bo Burns can shoot the ball from anywhere on the court. Walking in to the gym, I noticed the depth perception was not very good. I figured shooters would struggle a little further out. Bo was unconscious from behind the arc. His game is purely shooting and defense. Of the ball on the defensive side, he is a nightmare. He has a long wingspan, which gives him an extra second of time to get to a skip pass for a steal. He has a quick high release, which makes it difficult to block his shot.
Washington’s 30th-ranked 2018 Eli Morton could be in store for a very eventful next few months. The 5-foot-10 point guard may not have prototypical size, but he uses what he has to the best of his ability and prides himself on being a lockdown defender and elite distributor.
Kelle Sanders is a 6’6 Senior forward who has some serious athleticism. Can run the floor, block shots and posturize his opponents with rim rocking dunks. This next season he will need to be more of a offensive threat and will need to spend some time in the gym working on his post moves and maybe develop a 15-foot mid-range shot to increase his scoring output.
6’3 senior point guard Mason Gibson is a very physically gifted point guard who can drive and dish. With his big upper body, he has the ability to slice through the lane with contact and create shots for others. He will play a major role this season in getting the Tide’s shooters good shots.
6’7 senior post Brandon White is a legitimate post player. He is the traditional back to the basket type of player. He is a bruiser in the paint on the defensive end making other teams think twice about attacking the rim. He can finish with an assortment of low post moves using both hands. I got a chance to talk with the senior and here is how he described his game.