Princeton Offense Plays: Sets, Entries, and Counters for Coaches

Chin, Low, and Point are connected actions in Lee DeForest's Princeton playbook. Each has a distinct trigger. Teach the pass, the numbered roles, and the continuation together so players know how to move when the first scoring chance closes.

Read the Ball Before the Arrows

The basic alignment has two guards high, two wings above the free-throw line extended, and 5 on the ballside block. The entry moves those players into different positions. A pass into Low and a pass into Point lead to different jobs even when the same five players are on the floor.

• Ball location: Name who has the ball before explaining the next cut.
• Trigger: Identify the pass or dribble that begins the action.
• Timing: Connect the cutter's movement to that trigger.
• Continuation: Give players a receiving spot and next action when the first option is covered.

Three Connected Actions

Play 1: Chin

Chin begins with a strongside handoff and weakside exchange. Its first screened cut starts while the ball is being passed to the wing, so 5 does not need an elbow catch to begin screening.

1. Entry: 1 hands off to 3, who dribbles back to the guard position. On the weak side, 2 and 4 exchange. 5 fills the strongside elbow.
2. Pass and screen: 3 passes across to 4, then 4 passes to 2 on the wing. As that pass leaves 4, 3 cuts off 5's backscreen to the rim.
3. Second read: 5 immediately flare-screens for 4. 2 reads 3 at the rim, then 4 off the flare. If 2 is denied before the wing pass, 4 can dribble at 2 for a backdoor.
4. Continue: If no pass is available, 2 dribbles up and 1 fills the next guard spot. The cutters clear to their assigned spots so the action can reverse.

Play 2: Low

Low begins with a post entry. Choose one perimeter option first. The high-post split, curl, backcut, and Laker cut are choices to teach in sequence.

1. Post catch: Enter to 5 near the block. 5 looks to score while the selected perimeter action develops.
2. Split: 3 screens at the elbow for 2. 2 looks to finish the cut or move to the wing. In the base split, 3 then cuts to the rim. The curl and backcut are separate reads from that screen.
3. Pass out: When the scoring options are covered, 5 passes to a filled wing or top spot and moves toward the strongside elbow.
4. Wing decision: A post feed returns to Low. A pass up starts Point. A dribble up starts Chin. The wing cannot dribble up while 5 still has the ball.

Play 3: Point

Point is the OUA series. Over, Under, and Away describe the passer's route after 5 catches at the elbow. They do not describe a guard dribbling over or under a ball screen.

1. Entry: In the Wave entry, 2 cuts through as 5 gets to the opposite elbow. 1 enters the ball to 5.
2. Over: 1 moves over the top toward 4, who sets up a backcut. In the base continuation on printed page 19, 1 receives back, uses 5's side screen, and 5 rolls.
3. Away: 1 moves away toward 3 for a fake screen, then receives back. In the page 17 ball-screen continuation, 5 follows rather than rolling, leading to post/flare action.
4. Under: 1 cuts to the rim, then uses 4's screen to come out. In the fixed-post continuation on page 22, 4 backscreens 5 into the post. The later pivot-change sequence on page 23 has 5 backscreening 4. Keep those options separate.

Connect the Actions in Practice

Walk one entry, then add guided defense to its first read. Let the defense deny the wing or elbow catch and require the offense to use the taught answer. Restore live play to check whether players can keep the sequence and read the help at the same time.

Teach the Low dribble-up connection to Chin before adding the pass-up connection to Point. That is the progression on printed page 15. Use the diagrams and each detailed set page to keep the role numbers and timing consistent.