An Underrated Skill Most High School Players Never Learn
What is Scanning?
Scanning is checking what is east and west of you while holding the basketball. Great passers have their eyes up and anticipate what will happen next. For example, Austin Reeves sometimes has his eyes up but is not actively scanning. The best scanners map the floor and anticipate teammates’ moves into open space.
Luka Dončić and LeBron James use broad external vision to read defenders and predict who will be open. This allows them to create high-percentage passes even before they touch the ball.
How to Learn Scanning
- Watch film and anticipate what will happen next
- Notice how teammates and defenders move to create openings
- Practice scanning before the catch and before making a decision
Scanners can anticipate rotations, openings near the rim, and windows for passes. LeBron James, for example, uses scanning to see how defenders will react and position passes accordingly. Messi does the same in football, showing that scanning is a skill across sports.
When to Scan
There are three key times to scan the floor:
- On the catch: As soon as you receive the ball, check defenders and teammate positions.
- While dribbling: Keep your eyes up and anticipate open spaces for passes or drives.
- At the end of a drive: Use your eyes to manipulate the defense and find open pockets.
Advanced players use scanning in complex actions like Offensive Action Defensive Coverage (OADC). This allows them to quickly read multiple defenders and make high-level decisions during pick and roll or simultaneous screen actions.
Key Takeaways
Scanning is a critical tool for creating open passing lanes and high-percentage plays.
- Develop broad external vision to read defenders and anticipate openings.
- Use scanning before the catch, while dribbling, and at the end of drives.
Top players, including Luka Dončić, LeBron James, and Messi, excel because they constantly scan the floor.
By improving your scanning and court vision, you can make better decisions, manipulate defenders, and increase your impact in games.
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Our goal at PGC is to empower you with the tools to fulfill your basketball dreams, while also assisting you in experiencing the joy of the journey.
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