Most high school players practice wrong. They shoot around for an hour, play pickup, and call it "training." That's not how you make varsity.

Here are the 3 drills that actually moved the needle:

1. The Mikan Drill (5 min daily)

Stand under the basket. Alternate layups — right hand, left hand — without letting the ball hit the ground. Start at 30 in a row, work up to 100. This builds touch and finishing with both hands, which is the #1 thing coaches look for.

2. Full-court ball handling with a tennis ball

Dribble a basketball in one hand, toss and catch a tennis ball with the other. Go full court. Switch hands at half. This forces your eyes up and makes your handles automatic. After 2 weeks of this, defenders can't take the ball from you.

3. The 5-spot shooting drill

5 spots around the 3-point line. Make 3 from each spot before moving on. But here's the key — sprint to half court and back between each spot. You need to shoot when you're tired, because that's when games are won.

Do these 3 drills every day for 30 days. That's it. Your coaches will notice.

I break down more drills like this every week inside Basketball Skills Upgrade Club. If you're serious about making varsity, come train with us.