In Lee's 5 Out, the post receives the ball at the top of the key and dribbles toward a wing. The wing reads the defense and can come over 5 for a shot or backcut toward the rim. The player with the ball is 5.
How the phase begins
The Chin sequence can change to 5 Out when the ball is passed to 5 stepping out at the top. From that catch, 5 can dribble toward either wing. Keep that pass and the following dribble in the correct order.
On printed page 11, 5 dribbles toward 3. Player 3 backcuts and 1 fills the wing. Player 5 looks for the cutter, then the player filling behind. The other option allows the wing to come over 5 for the perimeter shot.
The source limits 5's dribble to around the lane lines extended. Dribbling too wide changes the spacing and crowds the wing. Teach the starting catch, the direction of the dribble and the cutter's finish before adding another option.
The high-school version keeps the post role familiar
After the first action, 5 passes to 1 on the wing and makes a UCLA cut off 3's screen to the block. Player 3 fills the top spot vacated by 5. This returns 5 to the inside role.
Player 3 filling the top does not make 3 the permanent post in this version. Lee describes choosing a few players to learn the post role while the other players learn the perimeter positions.
Use the next pass or dribble to choose the phase
With 1 on the wing and 5 back inside, a dribble up to the guard spot keys Chin. Players 4, 2 and 3 fill the guard and wing positions, and 5 is ready to screen at the elbow.
If 1 passes to 3 at the top instead, that pass keys Point. Player 3 becomes the passer whose next cut selects the OUA action. These are half-court connections in the source. The dribble-up option is not a separate fast-break variation.
The Air Force version changes the post for the possession
Printed page 12 begins with the same dribble-at and backcut. This time, 3 stays inside as the new post and 5 becomes a perimeter player. The other players must know how to fill those roles.
With 1 on the wing, 5 can set a fake screen for 4, who backcuts. If the low-post entry is available, the feed to 3 starts Low. If the post is covered, a pass to the top brings the offense back to Point.
Choose the version that fits the players and teach it consistently. Combining 5's UCLA cut from the fixed-post version with 3 staying inside from the changing-post version places two players in the same job.
Check the whole floor
Five-out starting space can create a driving or cutting lane, but it does not remove help defense. The passer still has to see the lane, and the players away from the ball must finish their fills. If the first cutter is covered, use the fill and the next connection instead of forcing the rim pass.
The 3-on-0 5 Out Backscreen drill rehearses the backdoor, fill, post seal and screen options from this family. Practice the chosen continuation with all five players after the breakdown.
Continue with the Chin, Low and Point lessons using the same player numbers.
Source: Lee DeForest's Princeton Offense Blueprint, printed pages 7, 11-12.
Use the original diagrams
Start with the free Chin excerpt or use the complete playbook for this lesson and its continuations.
Get the free Chin PDF See the complete playbook