Knockdown Shooters Are Doing THIS 1 Shooting Drill EVERY DAY

In this week’s video, we break down a powerful and competitive shooting drill you can use in your driveway, your local gym, or in any team practice setting.
Known as the McCollum 52-Point Drill, this workout helps players sharpen their footwork, improve their shot selection, and train the most common in-game scoring scenarios.

Marky Freeman from PGC Basketball walks through how players can use this drill individually or with a partner, and why it targets three major areas of growth every coach and athlete should master.

The Three Skills This Drill Develops

This drill addresses several key weaknesses for developing players, including:

• High-frequency game shots: Catch-and-shoot threes and one-dribble pull-ups — the two most common and highest-percentage shots in basketball.
• Supreme footwork: Helping players eliminate perimeter travels, the most frequently called violation at the high school and college levels.
• The most effective fake in the game: The peek fake, used to freeze defenders and create better scoring opportunities.

How the McCollum 52-Point Drill Works

Players will take four shots from each of the five spots around the arc:

• Catch-and-shoot three.
• One-dribble pull-up going right from midrange.
• One-dribble pull-up going left from midrange.
• Side-step escape-dribble three.

Each spot offers a maximum of 10 points. If a player hits every shot across all five spots, they can score up to 50 points.

Scoring:

• Threes = 3 points
• Twos = 2 points

The Free Throw Challenge (Where the Final 2 Points Come From)

Once a shooter completes the arc, they move to the free throw line for the final challenge — the opportunity to earn the last 2 points in the 52-point drill.

Free throw scoring:

• Nothing but net = +1 point
• Hit rim (but still make it) = 0 points
• Miss = –10 points (creating true game-like pressure)

This pressure environment forces players to stay mentally sharp and finish the drill with focus — just like late-game free throws.

Why This Drill Works

The McCollum 52-Point Drill is highly competitive and incredibly realistic. It trains:

• Game-speed footwork
• High-value shot types
• Rhythm and consistency
• Decision-making under pressure

As players get into a shooting rhythm, coaches can challenge them further — tightening up their footwork, speeding up their release, and encouraging them to stay uncomfortable to improve.

The drill ends with pressure free throws, adding a final mental challenge to an already dynamic workout.

As Marky says: “Take it. Use it. Let’s get buckets.”