Great 1-4 High Set

I am starting a new project as a writer for the website HoopsU. I am very excited to have the opportunity to participate, a big THANK YOU goes out to Coach Alfonso for giving me this opportunity, hopefully I can live up to his high standards!

In trying to figure out what to write for the first time, I've been spending time looking at sets to get your stud player the ball. In all honesty sets are not a strong suit, so I am using this opportunity to really improve and do some in depth research in this area! One of the sets I really like is the one that is shared below.

This set is a 1-4 high look that is geared toward getting looks for your stud point guard. For many coaches, especially at small shools, your point guard is usually your best driver, best shooter, best passer, and maybe even best post up player. So you need sets that revolve around the point guard and let him have opportunities to score and distribute. This is what the set does.


The set starts with the point guard (1) dribbling at the wing (3) - this should be the second best shooter between the two wings. The wing back cuts to the rim and if back cut isn't open, the backside wing (2) comes down and sets a pin screen to get the cutting wing (3) to the corner. As this is happening the backside post (4) starts to work his way down.

This clears out the ballside and gives your pg a chance to isolate. If the point guard (1) can turn the corner and go he should. As the backcutting wing (3) comes off the pin screen and fills to the corner, the backside post (4) sets a down screen for the screener (2) who cuts up the laneline to the slot. We can throw him the ball for a three if he is open. The

The downscreening post (4) shapes to the ball and we can enter it for a post up if it's open. This is especially great if they switch the screen. If the post up is not there the ballside post (5) comes across and sets the side ballscreen. The post who is on the ballside block now (4) comes up and backscreens the screener (5) and then shapes to the elbow. The point guard (1) comes off the screen and can throw to a shooter on the backside (2, 3) or hit the roller (5) coming off the back screen, or hit the screener (4) shaping to the elbow.

This is a great play for a number of reasons. First, the ball stays in the point guard's hands the entire play. It is a great look if you don't trust your other players to handle the ball. Second it gives your point guard a few opportunities to score and distribute, while still giving the other players on your team opportunities.

This set is geared toward a point guard who likes to drive the ball. If it's not an athletic point guard who's good at getting to the rim and creating, it's not a great set.

Lastly, I would not run this against a team that really pressures man to man. The action on the side is going to take a few seconds to develop and if your point guard can't back dribble on the wing to get the pressure off they run the risk of a five second call.