Cadougan review...

[MR.HAYWARD]

By Jeff Borzello of College Hoops.net.  Via Big East Reports:


Junior Cadougan (6-0, 2009):
A really solid all-around player, Cardougan played as if he was still being recruited (he committed to Marquette last week). Immediately, you notice that he is a leader on the court. He is a little heavy in the upper body, but that just enables him to overpower smaller point guards and also allows him to get his shot off inside against bigger players. He does not mind contact at all, and finished several times despite getting fouled while going to the rim. He ran the pick-and-roll with Renardo Sidney exceptionally well, either dishing to Sidney or driving the ball to the basket himself. He does not make many mistakes, and seems very mature and calm while out on the court. Cadougan makes smart decisions with the ball and knows exactly what speed the game needs to be played at for his team to win. He is crafty and usually drives diagonally, which makes it difficult for defenders to stay in front of him. I do wonder how effective he is with his left hand, but he was so tough to stop with his right hand that it did not matter.

College List: Committed to Marquette


Interesting that he notes the left hand as in watching the videos of him I picked up on that as weel.  on a number of his drives to the left he finishes with his right hand.  It still amazes me , in fact its dumbfounding that kids that talented and with that much ability do not learn at a young agae to finish with their left hand.  maybe they are so talented and so much better than their competiton that they dont see the need.  The kids i caoch end up in many cases as strong or stronger with the left hand finish than the right just becuase we freaking drill it so much.  the twisting contorted left side finishes of some of the top HS and even colleg kids attempting to lay it in on the left side with the right hand is simply hard to watch especially as many of them roll out or a blocked as they present the ball to the defender as opposed to protecting it with their body and creating space by using a proper left handed finish.  My #1 personal pet peeve and it stood out immediately watching junior.  Mcneal, Tony parker and other solid players are also huge violators of this simple skill.  Dj on the other hand is flawless with the left finish...old school taught in indiana.

[MUCrew]

I completely agree.  I've always been one to do things the right way and not look at it as "putting the ball in the hoop" necessarily.  Some would call that a 'power layup' - going strong with your strong hand on the weak side of the basket.  Power or not, create the space with your body and go up strong with the proper hand.  I always make sure that the kids that I coach know and understand the importance of doing it right, rather than having them continue to develop bad habits.  What good is 'going through the motion' if they don't understand why?  I've seen many coaches actually drill drill drill, but there is no explanation except for, "It's the right way to do things." 

But yeah, that's one thing I noticed as well about Junior.  I actually shook my head a few times watching the video because I thought, "Well, that's gonna get blocked....and that too..."  Maybe he has a left hand...who knows.  Only time will tell and hopefully by the time he gets to MU, we'll look back at this and think this is a silly little thing to be discussing about him:-p

[MR.HAYWARD]

exactly, problem is heretofore he has probably had few of his right handed layups on the left side bloked or missed.  in the BE and high D1 ball that will be a different story.  BE big man salivate on that kind of thing and you can lose close games becuase of it.  If junior high kids can deleop it ove r the course of a season so can a colleg kid.

[tower912]

Mikan drills and making kids run if they shoot left side layups with the right hand improves their off hand greatly.   I had to learn to finish with my left because I was too damned short and slow to NOT keep my body between the defender and the ball.

[MR.HAYWARD]

Mikan is a good one but we break it down even more to start. 
no dribbling...
eyes on the target( top left corner)
ball in pocket
left step
right step
lift
left knee left elbow rise in unison...keep it simple... build from there

[MUCrew]

Mikan is a good one but we break it down even more to start. 
no dribbling...
eyes on the target( top left corner)
ball in pocket
left step
right step
lift
left knee left elbow rise in unison...keep it simple... build from there

That's exactly how I do it.  So many kids want to bring the ball down, dribble with their eyes down, then come back up. 

[jce]

That's exactly how I do it.  So many kids want to bring the ball down, dribble with their eyes down, then come back up. 

Or dribble the ball right off the pass.  Grab the ball with two hands...*then* dribble.

[RedWebster]

Dominic James has no left hand.

[StillWarriors]

I don't agree with it, but I have heard from a few people that their kids on club or travel teams are now being taught to go up with their inside hand on layups. Not sure what the rationale for that would be. I'll try to find out what explanation they were given.

[MU Chi_IL]

Dominic James has no left hand.

No, he has one, I have seen it.  It is attached to his left arm, at the bottom.

[MR.HAYWARD]

I have never heard of that in my life...and my son has played for and trained with both the Indiana elite and spiece gym rats probably the two premier programs in the state.  additional in too many clinics and camps to count i have never seen that ... there is absolutely no rational for it whatso ever.  i will say on a break away go to your strongest most confident side but never use the near side hand for a layup absolutly no basis for that.

[MUCrew]

I have never heard of that in my life...and my son has played for and trained with both the Indiana elite and spiece gym rats probably the two premier programs in the state.  additional in too many clinics and camps to count i have never seen that ... there is absolutely no rational for it whatso ever.  i will say on a break away go to your strongest most confident side but never use the near side hand for a layup absolutly no basis for that.

I coached at a school last year and worked with a so-called 'legendary coach' who taught the 'power layup' idea where you go up with your strong hand all the time.  It boggled my mind and I couldn't understand how and why she was teaching the players to do that.  We were supposed to teach the same thing top-down in the program, but I was being a 'bad assistant' by teaching the players, what I feel, was the correct way.  Now I've only been coaching for a few years and maybe I don't know EVERYTHING there is to know about basketball, but that can't POSSIBLY be right, can it?

[jce]

I coached at a school last year and worked with a so-called 'legendary coach' who taught the 'power layup' idea where you go up with your strong hand all the time.  It boggled my mind and I couldn't understand how and why she was teaching the players to do that.  We were supposed to teach the same thing top-down in the program, but I was being a 'bad assistant' by teaching the players, what I feel, was the correct way.  Now I've only been coaching for a few years and maybe I don't know EVERYTHING there is to know about basketball, but that can't POSSIBLY be right, can it?

A power layup is an overhand lay-up that is basically a jump shot.  You use it in traffic such in cases where you get an offensive rebound.  In such cases, using your strong hand at all times is fine.  But if you are not in traffic, and you use the underhand, you should use the left hand on the left side.

[MUONTOP]

Whatever gets the ball in the basket

Can we either stop talking about how we coach little children the "right" way on a thread about Junior Cadaugan or start up another board where everyone can talk coaching techniques for there respective High School, Junior High and middle school teams.

It's a matter of opinion about lefty vs power or whatever and the bottom line is scoring the basketball.  It sounds like Junior can do that pretty consistently, same with Mcneal who some have said doesn't use his left.  

Let's leave the couch Coaching on the couch.

[MR.HAYWARD]

A power layup is an overhand lay-up that is basically a jump shot.  You use it in traffic such in cases where you get an offensive rebound.  In such cases, using your strong hand at all times is fine.  But if you are not in traffic, and you use the underhand, you should use the left hand on the left side.


Could be taught that way in some circles....none that I have ever been involved and that does not just mean juniro high I am also talking camps tught by colleg and pro coaches teaching and working with elite players of the mid schol thru college ages.  In fact what we call "scoop" shots what you referr to as underhanded will earn you suicides or push ups. 

for the individual that staed DJ had no left hand ...that is sad commentary either more Dj bashing or simply an ignorant comment. 

here is a picture of Dj taking the ball to his left...now if he used this "power hand" or right hand the chances of him getting the shot blocked or missed go up greatly.  using his left he can still draw the same contact yet the chances of the ball going in go up greatly and until some grows 9 foot long arms it probably is not getting blocked.  simple physics and basics of the game of keeping yourself between the ball and the defender while also emplying an arm bar.
http://uspresswire.com/image/2674881

furthermore principals applied rmain the same when going to the right...regardless of being right handed or left handed the proper fundamentals remain the same.  And thanks for the comment ary Muontop.  but pleass realize that the thread is in no way a knock on Junior.  Simply commentary if you care to reread that states it can be learned no matter the age. additionally yes it is all about getting the ball in the whole.  And i have seen and tivo's in bewilderment the use of the "power" hand in situations where the off hand should be used whiel the ball rolls out or gets swatted.  beacuse you are right it is about putting the ball in the whole and the proper technique increases those chances. 

http://uspresswire.com/image/2394601

in this picture notice the proper use of the arm bar warding the defender off( left hand seen by defenders armpit).  If DJ were a lefty and used the "power" hand the chances of this shot going in go down significantly and yes thats waht it is all about.

[MUONTOP]

I understand your principles and physics argument and probably agree but without actual statistical data about using which hand (I've never seen any) can you be certain that using your left on the left side or using your right on the right side increases shooting percentage? 

Couldn't the argument be made that a player less comfortable using his weak hand would be more likely to statistically miss shots using that hand than using his strong hand which would feel more comfortable and less awkward?  Why don't we see coaches teaching players to shoot jumpers with their off-hand, wouldn't it be harder in some occasions to block shots?

I guess I'm just playing devil's advocate

[avid1010]

It seems bias to say, but I think Wade does this about as well as anyone in the world.  He's so strong going left, and that's typically what allows players to use their right hand from the left side in certain situations.  Everything I've seen on this is a judgement call based on how the help defense is playing the ball and shot. 

It is sad to see fundamenals lacking, but they play so many games it's bound to happen.

[MR.HAYWARD]

Couldn't the argument be made that a player less comfortable using his weak hand would be more likely to statistically miss shots using that hand than using his strong hand which would feel more comfortable and less awkward?  Why don't we see coaches teaching players to shoot jumpers with their off-hand, wouldn't it be harder in some occasions to block shots?

Ohabsolutely correct and that is why guys do it.  But the point is with proper drilling that does not have to be the case, and it is not something overly difficult it simply needs a commitment.  I agree that yes they will be missed if it is akward an uncomfortablw, but going back to the physics and is clearly evident in the two DJ picture the proper hand allows for creating sace thru lenght and use of the arm bar and also provides for a better angle of the ball.

Now as far as shooting the ball and layups we are taliking two different stories a shot from 2-3-4 feet witht he off hand can be truly drilled and drilled shooting jumpers with the off hand is stretching the abilites of the off hand, brain cordination, etc etc.  more than too far fetched.  playing devils advocate like that would be akin to saying "gee why did nt Nolan ryan just learn to throw like that wih his left arm too"

[HelixAir6]

Back to the original topic, there are a few good comments from Reggie Rankin on Cadougan's performance (good enough to be selected as an All-Star) at the Reebok AA camp:

The guard position headlined the camps best players, with 2009 prospects Kenny Boynton (Pompano Beach, Fla./American Heritage), Junior Cadougan (Toronto/Christian Life Center Academy) and Abdul Gaddy (Tacoma, Wash./Bellarmine Prep), 2010 prospect Brandon Knight (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Pine Crest) and 2011 Myck Kabongo (Toronto/St. Benedict's) stealing the show.

•  Point guard Junior Cadougan (6'0, 190) from Toronto, Ontario, (Committed Marquette) is as good as advertised. He was terrific at getting to the rim off high ball screens and finishing through contact. Also, he showed the ability to read the defense by making the right decision whether that is shooting the jumper if his defender goes under the screen or finding the open man when his penetration is cut off. Cadougan is excellent at being the coach on the floor as he directs his teammates constantly. He is faster with the ball than without and escapes defenders in transition for layups. Has a good midrange game but must be a more consistent 3-point shooter -- although he is accurate enough to always keep the defense honest. He needs to improve his conditioning -- he looked a little heavy. Cadougan has battled a foot injury that noticeably slowed him from being as explosive with the ball during Tuesday's games. That being said, he was still very impressive.