Basketball Coaching Blog

Start Chin with the correct spacing and a clear cutting cue. Player 3 cuts off 5 when the ball leaves 4 on its way to 2 on the wing.

Watch Princeton Basketball Offense Chin Set from Coach DeForest. Use the playbook-based checklist below while reviewing the linked clip.

Low begins when the ball enters the low post. The wing first looks inside.

The Point series begins with a pass to 5 at the high-post elbow. The passer then cuts Over, Away or Under.

Twirl begins with a guard-to-wing pass and a circle action. Player 5 fills the top of the key, about three feet above the three-point line.

In Lee's 5 Out, the post receives the ball at the top of the key and dribbles toward a wing.

X applies the Point OUA options from a wing entry. Player 1 passes to 3, both guards fill the corners and 5 moves to the high post.

Watch Princeton Offense: Strongside Set from Coach DeForest. Use the playbook-based checklist below while reviewing the linked clip.

Watch Princeton Offense Playbook from Coach DeForest. Use the playbook-based checklist below while reviewing the linked clip.

Watch Princeton Offense Basics with Virtual Coaches Clinic from Coach DeForest.

Lee DeForest's playbook organizes the offense into Chin, 5 Out, Low, Point, Twirl and X.

Point Away names the passer's cut away from the ball after feeding the high post.

Point Over starts with 1 passing to 5 at the high post and cutting over the top of the ball toward a fake screen for 4.

Point Under sends the passer to the rim after the high-post entry. In the source diagram, 1 feeds 5 and sprints for the return pass.

A counter answers a specific defensive response to the base action. Teach the starting alignment, the trigger, and the next pass together so the counter stays connected to the offense.

Watch Princeton Offense: Chin Set and Counters from Coach DeForest. Use the playbook-based checklist below while reviewing the linked clip.

Watch Princeton Offense Basketball Counter v. Switch from Coach DeForest.

Watch Princeton Offense: Spin and Point Counter from Coach DeForest. Use the playbook-based checklist below while reviewing the linked clip.

Princeton passing and spacing habits can help against zones. The playbook also has a separate zone section.

The Princeton Offense attacks man-to-man defense by punishing pressure. If defenders deny, cutters go backdoor.

A read-based offense is any offensive system where players make decisions based on what the defense does, rather than running predetermined scripted plays.

Choose a drill for the part of the possession that needs work. Lee's playbook gives separate breakdowns for Wave, Chin, backdoors and 5 Out.

This four-week outline organizes teaching time. Adjust it to the team's practice schedule and current skills.

A backdoor cut needs a passing window and coordinated timing. In the Princeton Offense, drill the cue for the action you are teaching, including the pass-triggered cut in Chin.

Watch the peer pressure drill video, then identify its setup, scoring and rotation before using it.

A basketball read is the moment a player processes what the defense is doing and selects the best action in response.

Build offensive habits in practice. Give players repeated chances to recognize a defender, make the pass and move into the next action.

Youth teams should not start with the full Princeton Offense. Start with three transferable habits: wide spacing, pass-and-cut movement, and the backdoor read when defenders deny.

High school teams can learn the Princeton Offense in manageable pieces. Choose one entry, teach the passing and cutting it needs, and add guided defense.

Study the post-up moves taught by legendary coach Hubie Brown and learn how to integrate low-post scoring options into the Princeton Offense.

Use this Michigan two-guard offense video as a comparison with Lee’s Princeton system.

Build a playbook around the situations your team faces. The examples below cover transition, half-court offense, zone attacks, inbounding and late-clock possessions.

These moves give players ways to change direction, create space and finish.

Pete Carril made the Princeton Offense famous because his teams used spacing, patience, backdoor cuts, and intelligent passing to compete against more athletic opponents.

Princeton combines named actions with defensive reads. Motion is a broader family of offenses organized by movement rules.

Princeton uses named entries with reads and continuations. Flex uses a repeating flex cut and downscreen, with reads and counters when defenders deny or switch.

Princeton is a system of named actions and reads. Five-out describes an alignment with all five players outside the lane.

Princeton emphasizes connected entries, passing, screening, and cuts. Dribble Drive emphasizes gap attacks and reactions to help.

The Princeton Offense has been misunderstood since Pete Carril first made it famous at Princeton University.

The Princeton Offense combines practiced actions with decisions made against the defense.