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Success is no accident.

Becoming a great player takes lots of hard work. If you look at the top college and professional players, you'll see athletes that put in the time and effort to improve their games.

Below are playing tips that will help you become a better player.

Scoring

Improve your confidence and become a better scorer
One of the most important parts of being a good scorer is confidence. How can you become a more confident player and scorer? The first step it so simply start believing you can be successful.

There is no magic potion that will all of a sudden give you confidence. Confidence comes from lots or practice and preparation, then going out and making it happen. Don't get down if you miss a couple of shots (or more than a couple of shots). Don't get down if someone blocks your shot, or you turn the ball over. Keep believing in yourself. Keep working hard. Stay positive and good things will happen.

Learn how to finish plays
It's one thing to make a good pump fake or dribble move, but it's another to make the move and finish the play. Great players finish plays. Period.

Finishing plays requires strength, confidence, and focus. If you drive to the basket and get bumped, you still have to have the strength and focus to put the ball in the basket. The best way to learn how to finish plays is to play lots of basketball, and not be afraid to take it to the defense. The more you play against good players, and the more you learn how to score the basketball, the better you'll be at finishing plays.

Work on having a quick shot release
The ability to shoot the ball against good defense is a key to being a good scorer. Creating space for your shot, and having a quick shot release are the keys.

No matter how good (and quick) your shot is now, work on making it quicker, without sacrificing form or accuracy. Practice shooting the ball even quicker than you normally do. Speed up your shooting motion while keeping solid form. Work on it, practice it, and pretty soon you'll be shooting the ball with a quicker release, which will make you a better scorer.

Dribbling

Two ball drills
Two ball drills are some of the best drills around for becoming a better ball handler. Work on your dribbling skills using two basketballs, and you will develop quickly as a ball handler.

Two ball drills push you beyond what you're normally used to, and therefore are great drills. They also help you work on your off hand. Do full court dribbling with two basketballs (with both basketballs hitting the ground at the same time, and then staggering the dribbles so one ball hits the ground at a time). Then do some zig-zag, and up-and-back dribbling drills.

Keep your head and eyes up so you can see the court
This is one of the most important tips for becoming a better player: never look down at the ball while you dribble.

Work on your dribbling skills until you don't have to look down at the ball while dribbling. Good ball handlers can dribble up the floor while scanning the court for their teammates and their opponent. The only way to become a solid ball handler is to develop to the point where you don't have to look down at the basketball while dribbling.

More to come. Check back soon...