Working Overtime: Shooting Drills with Jeff Nelson
I had the opportunity to watch a shooting session at Cedardale Fitness Center in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on Saturday afternoon led by shooting coach/trainer Jeff Nelson. While speaking with Jeff, he explained that a poor shooting performance by the North Andover…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingI had the opportunity to watch a shooting session at Cedardale Fitness Center in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on Saturday afternoon led by shooting coach/trainer Jeff Nelson. While speaking with Jeff, he explained that a poor shooting performance by the North Andover varsity team in one of their games earlier this season inspired him to run these specific clinics. He wanted to provide a program to enhance the athlete’s confidence, technique, and efficiency shooting the basketball. This workout featured young up-and-coming players from Massachusetts who have elite skillsets. The girls worked hard, went full speed the whole time, and were focused on fine-tuning their game to become more lethal shooters.
The goal during these sessions is to get up north of 400 shots. I liked how there was an emphasis on shooting mid-range jump shots. Players have become prone to stepping behind the three-point line and shooting from deep constantly, but it was good to see the focus on efficiency from different ranges and spots on the court. The girls also worked on shooting off the dribble along with off the catch. No matter what position they played, it was great to see the dedication to developing their perimeter game and adding layers to their skillset. Here are some of the stand-out athletes from this session.
Ella Flanagan – North Andover High/Mass Mavericks – 6’0” – PF/SF – 2023
Flanagan has all the tools to be a dominant stretch 4. Now that she has crossed the 6ft plateau, she is extremely dangerous at the power forward position because she possesses a guard skillset. Flanagan is quick, athletic, and has a fluid jump shot to easily convert contested perimeter jump shots. With the steady progression of her outside game off the dribble and ability to create offense effectively, Flanagan has the potential to be one of the more potent scoring stretch 4’s in the region.
Jackie Rogers – North Andover High/Lady Rivals – 6’0” – PF – 2023
Rogers is an impressive forward who has a polished inside game and is a terrific slasher. I was impressed with how locked in she was trying to develop her one-on-one moves on the perimeter. Rogers showed good footwork on the outside and great touch on her 15-foot jump shots. With her work ethic, it is only a matter of time before she develops a faceup and isolation package on the perimeter. Combined with her post-game, Rogers will be an inside/outside force for the next two years.
Sam Guertin – Central Catholic/Lady Rivals – 5’5” – SG – 2024
As a freshman, Guertin made Central Catholic’s varsity team. The 5’5” combo guard has the confidence to be a deadly knockdown shooter from the perimeter. She shows the ability to be an excellent three-level scorer as she was showcasing her range all afternoon. With her quickness and ball-handling ability, she will find success getting to her spots consistently to score off the dribble. Guertin’s quick jab step should allow her to create just enough separation to get off her accurate jumper.
Hannah Martin – North Andover/Lady Rivals – 5’7” – SG/PG – 2023
Martin is one of the better scorers and shot creators at the point guard position. She has a smooth, confident jump shot that she can hit comfortably from anywhere on the court. It was encouraging seeing Martin leave it out on the court and not be satisfied that she is already a proficient shooter. Martin has the drive to get better and wants to become more volatile scoring the basketball. She has excellent technique and footwork with the tools to be a perfect fit as a shooting guard who can be a three-point threat coming off screens.
Janie Papell – North Andover – 5’4” – PG – 2024
Papell is a three-sport athlete at North Andover whose conditioning is off the charts. She didn’t seem to get tired through the session, and by the end, she still had the same lift in her jump shot that she had at the beginning. Papell has a three-point range and can be a reliable option down the stretch of games because of her ability to fight through fatigue and still bury shots consistently.
Ella Flanagan, 6’0’’, PF, 2023
Jackie Rogers 6’0’’, PF, 2023
Janie Papell, 5’4, PG, 2024
Girls can absolutely snipe!🔥🎯@EllaFlan2023 @jackierogerss11 pic.twitter.com/dOiFoUWJgr— Bash Hudson (@BashHoopsNE) March 7, 2021