Run your offense like Princeton with Pete Carril's Princeton Offense - PART TWO

Princeton Offense Basketball

The Princeton offense is complex and requires many reads depending on what the defense does to guard you. The basic foundation of this offensive system involves every player accurately cutting, screening, passing, and shooting; being able to do these four fundamentals would allow your team to execute the Princeton Offense at a high level.

In order to properly break down each segment, we’re doing a four-part series focusing on the main points of understanding the Princeton Offense. In Part 1, we covered in great detail the strengths and weaknesses of this offense and what type of team would be successful running this offense along with the basics of getting the offense set up and started.

In this Part 2 article, we’ll discuss using a one-guard front and high post approach to the Princeton Offense. When you’re done reading this series, you should have a better understanding of the Princeton Offense and if it’s right for your team.

Getting Into A One Guard Front

To get into a one-guard front, the top guard without the ball will cut through. As the guard cuts, make sure the guard with the ball dribbles to the middle.

The center is going to cut right after them to the high post for a pass from the guard. Now the guard has three options:

1. Screen away from the ball
2. Screen towards the ball
3. Backdoor cut

Screening Away From the Ball

Guard passes to the Center at the high post then goes to screen away for the Forward. The Forward has three options coming off of this screen:

1. Pop out for a shot
2. Go back door
3. Curl around the screen

The guard setting the screen is watching what the forward does off the screen to know what they are going to do:

If the Forward pops out for a shot, the guard will cut to the basket after they set the screen. They should be watching for the ball because if they are open the Center is looking to pass for the open shot. If they aren’t open they will continue cutting through the lane and then come off a down screen for the forward on the opposite side.

If the Forward goes back door, the guard will step back to the ball after the screen to get a pass from the Center to attack for either a shot or to pitch out for a shot in the corner.

After the screener gets the ball up top, swing the ball around to the wing. The guard at the top of the key will hit the forward coming off the down screen from the forward on the opposite wing who will then go to the low post for a pass from the wing.

When they catch it in the low post, they have four options: 1) score, 2) hit the cutting center player, 3) pass out to the player at the top, and 4) kick to the corner for a shot.

If the pass is denied to the low post swing the ball back up to the top of the key for a shot or a drive and pitch.

If the pass is denied to the low post swing the ball back up to the top of the key for a shot or a drive and pitch.

Screening Towards the Ball

The guard passes to the high post and screens the forward who comes off the screen looking for a shot.

As they are coming off this screen, the guard and forward on the opposite side are working to together to get open-down screening or back screening for each other.

If the forward coming off the screen doesn’t have a shot, they skip it to the corner for a shot. When the ball is skipped, the player that is skipped on the pass is now posting on the block.

The player in the corner has the option to shoot, pass to the low post, or pass back to the guard at the top. The low post entry would have options to score, pass to cutters, opposite corner, or top of the key.

The Guard Goes Back Door

This option is self-explanatory - after the guard passes to the high post they will read whether to screen towards the ball or away from the ball and as this is happening they will back door cut if they are being overplayed by the defense.

High Post Offense

To run the Princeton Offense's high post options, you generally start with two top guards, two forward players on the wings, and one low post (center). Depending on your team, you can decide what type of players fill these positions.

One of the ways to execute this offense is with your center player at the high post. Why is using the high post a good option? It allows you to spread the defense, it’s hard to guard, and makes it easier to reverse the ball from one side of the court to the other. However, the major key to making the high post even work is having a skillful player in the center position.

If you have a center that excels at passing, screening, shooting, and reading defenses then here are some options you have with them at the high post.

Turn-Out Cut

The guard passes to the forward on the wing and both guards cut down to the blocks. After they cut, the center will then v-cut to get open and catch a pass at the top of the key.

With the ball in the center’s hands, the forwards will both go to set-down screens. Guards cross each other in the paint and come off the screens.

Center finds the open guard for a pass then goes the opposite side to set a down screen for the other guard. This guard will come off this screen moving towards the top of the key for an open shot.

If the entry pass to the forward is being denied the guard can start the offense by making a direct pass to the center. When this happens both guards cut off the center down to the block and the continue on with the criss cross before coming off the down screen.

Dribble Entry

Another way to start this offense is with a dribble entry. For instance, the pass to the wing and the center are being denied. The guard can dribble entry the ball by dribbling towards the center and then the center popping out for a pass.

The guard who just passed the ball will come off a back screen from the ball side forward while the opposite guard will still come off a down screen. Center passes to the opposite guard then goes to set a down screen for ball side forward who comes off the screen for a shot in the middle.

From High Post to Low Post

If the guard coming off the down screen catches at the top and doesn’t have an open shot they should swing the ball. When the ball is swung the center should spin and post up in the low post looking for an entry pass to score.

Learn More

There’s so much to learn about the Princeton Offense that it’s impossible to do in one article which is why we are doing a four-part series solely focused on this complex offense!

If you want to learn more about developing this offense, continue reading the rest of our series and be sure to check out Pete Carril’s Princeton Offense 2-disc DVD set. It goes into incredible detail with excellent demonstrations to help you instruct your players on the court and make your game plan according to your team.