Yes, college players are usually bigger, stronger, and faster. Yes, college players are usually more skilled and have higher basketball I.Q.’s. Yes, college players are usually more mature in every aspect of their game.
However, I believe communication is the biggest separator. College basketball players effectively communicate better than high school players do.
This past weekend I watched a marathon of college basketball – caught 2 games in their entirety and saw bits and pieces of 4 other games.
What did I see?
College players talk! They talk on screens. They talk on inbounds plays. They talk when sprinting back in transition D. They thank the passer on an assist. Between the squeaking sneakers and constant chatter… a college court is never silent.
College players listen! They listen when they huddle before free throws. They listen to their coach during time-outs. They listen with their eyes and their ears.
Obviously, these are blanket statements. Not every college player does these things…and some high school players do. However, in both cases, those are the exception rather than the rule.
In high school, you may have sufficient talent, but lack of consistent, effective communication can easily be your teams Achilles Heel. When you don’t talk on Defense, your opponent gets easy buckets. When you don’t talk on Offense, things get scrambled and confused.
Bottom line: lack of communication causes breakdowns on both ends of the floor.
(Thanks Alan Stein)
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