High Flyers Basketball: 10 Proven Drills to Elevate Your Game and Skyrocket Scoring

Let me tell you something I’ve learned after years of analyzing the game, both from the sidelines and deep in the film room: scoring isn’t just about talent; it’s a craft, built through relentless, intelligent repetition. Watching a performance like NorthPort’s recent outing—where Tolentino dropped 19, Navarro added 18, and Munzon chipped in 15—it’s easy to just see the final numbers. But I see the countless hours of specific, high-pressure drills that built the muscle memory for those points. That’s what separates high flyers from the pack. Today, I want to pull back the curtain and share ten proven drills that, in my professional opinion, are non-negotiable for anyone serious about elevating their game and skyrocketing their scoring average. These aren’t just random exercises; they’re the building blocks of offensive efficiency, directly connected to the actions that fill up a stat sheet.

Think about the flow of that NorthPort game. The balanced scoring—Bulanadi and Onwubere each with 10, contributions from Cuntapay, Yu, Nelle—that doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because players are drilled to be ready, to move without the ball, and to finish under various conditions. My first must-do drill, and one I’m personally a huge advocate for, is the “Two-Ball Combo Finish.” You start at the three-point line with two basketballs. Dribble one ball hard into a crossover, then immediately attack the rim with the second ball for a finish. It’s chaotic, it’s uncomfortable, and that’s the point. It trains your hands to operate independently and your mind to process the next move before the first is even complete. It’s the kind of drill that builds the skills behind Munzon’s 15 points, likely involving several tough drives through traffic. For shooting, I’ve moved away from static spot-shooting for beginners. The “Curry-Style Movement Shooting” series is far more game-realistic. Start in the corner, sprint to the wing, catch and shoot. Then, from the wing, sprint to the top, catch and shoot. We’re talking 50 of these a day, minimum. The goal isn’t just makes; it’s simulating the exhaustion of a game and still having your legs under you. When Navarro sank his 18 points, you can bet his conditioning and his ability to shoot on the move were a direct result of this kind of work.

Now, let’s talk about the unsung hero of scoring: the mid-range. It’s become a lost art, and I think that’s a shame. A player like Tolentino, leading with 19 points, undoubtedly has a reliable in-between game. My go-to drill here is the “Elbow Series with a Chair.” Place a chair at each elbow. Start at one, use the chair as a screen, curl off it into a pull-up jumper. Next rep, jab step, one-dribble pull-up over the chair (your imaginary defender). Do five makes from each side, each move. This builds the footwork and balance for those high-percentage shots that break a zone or a tight man defense. It’s a precise, controlled way to add 4 to 6 crucial points to your nightly output. Another critical area is finishing with contact. We all love the open dunk, but games are won in the paint with bodies flying. The “Pad Series” is brutal but essential. Have a coach or partner hold a heavy pad. Drive to the basket, and as you go up, they apply contact with the pad to your shoulder or side. Your job is to finish through it, often with an extended arm or a reverse layup. This isn’t about finesse; it’s about toughness. When Bulanadi and Onwubere scored their combined 20 points inside, this is the drill that prepared them for the physicality.

But scoring isn’t a solo act. The best players make others better and find easy points off the ball. That’s where a drill I call “Read and React Cutting” comes in. Three players start on the perimeter with one ball. They pass and cut, but there’s no predetermined pattern. The cutter must read the defender’s position—if they turn their head, you backdoor; if they play you tight, you pop out. It’s pure, continuous decision-making. This develops the court vision and instinct that leads to easy layups and the kind of balanced team scoring NorthPort displayed, where even players like Flores and Taha found opportunities within the flow. Finally, you must drill game-speed decision-making. My favorite is the “3-on-2, 2-on-1 Continuous” drill. It’s a track meet. You start with an advantage, score or turn it over, and immediately transition to defense as new players sprint in. It’s exhausting, but it trains you to score efficiently in transition and under fatigue—the exact moments when games are decided.

In conclusion, the path to becoming a consistent high flyer on the scoreboard is paved with deliberate practice. The 97 points NorthPort put up are a testament to a system where players are drilled in these fundamental, yet advanced, scoring principles. From mastering the two-ball handle to finishing through pads, from honing a dead-eye moving jumper to making smart reads without the ball, these ten drills form a comprehensive blueprint. I’ve seen players add 5 to 8 points per game within a single season by committing to this kind of structured, gritty work. Remember, the glamour of the game-high score, like Tolentino’s 19, is always built in the empty gym, through the repetitive, unglamorous work of these proven drills. So grab a ball, find a partner, and start building your scoring craft today. The results, I promise you, will speak for themselves on the stat sheet.