Mid-Range Mastery: Knockdown Shooters Inside the Arc
We’ve all heard that the mid-range is dead, that it’s a dinosaur, that it’s the least efficient shot in the game. But we shouldn’t give up all that lush real estate in the mid-range either, locking ourselves into lay-ups or…
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Continue ReadingWe’ve all heard that the mid-range is dead, that it’s a dinosaur, that it’s the least efficient shot in the game. But we shouldn’t give up all that lush real estate in the mid-range either, locking ourselves into lay-ups or threes, should we? It’s an existential question and we all have our own scoring philosophies, but for these five players below it’s a fact that the mid-range is a key ingredient to their scoring prowess. Check em’ out!
Brianna Brownell, 5’9 G/F – Blueprint Basketball Class of ’24
With a nice flick of the wrist, Brianna puts rainbow arc on the ball, ensuring the orange hits pure nylon. Brownell has incorporated the mid-range fluidly into her game, finding sneaky openings in the short corner off of drives or open spaces around the elbow in the pick and pop. Moreover, she’s able to run the lanes well in transition, and if she and her teammates are coming down all at once, she’s able to make the right read either by running to the rim or spacing outside. Don’t get me wrong, she’s developing her three ball, but an open 12-16 footer is basically a lay-up for her. Brianna has great scoring intuition and isn’t one to force shots, so when she gets to her spot and puts it up you know it’s being shot with a confidence that is grounded in reps.
Addi Hunter, 5’11 W/F – Lone Wolf Athletics Class of ’23
Hunter, a modern forward with inside-out capabilities, is a deadeye in the mid-range. If Addi has the space off of either a catch-and-shoot or off the dribble, it’s a good look. She can operate from the short corner, the free throw line, and anywhere in between. Addi is an efficient scorer inside the lane too, however, it’s her mid-range that opens up a world of possibilities. If she’s filling it up in the paint, defenders instinctively sag off and she’ll comfortably shoot over the top. Furthermore, she’s got a number of counters off of her primary moves to the hoop, such as an up-and-under or a little turnaround jumper from 10 feet which keeps defenders on their heels. To put it all together, Addi is a fantastic passer and can slip a pass into the lane or out for an open shooter. Hunter keeps the defense guessing with her array of abilities in the mid-range.
Shaina Keough, 5’8 CG – Blueprint Basketball Class of ’23
Some skills simply come natural to certain players, maybe they’ve had a killer crossover since the 5th grade or maybe it’s an ability to make plays out of the pick and roll. For Shaina, it’s the mid-range jumper; she’s had it since the 8th grade, maybe even earlier. Keough relies on her shiftiness and basketball IQ to get to her spots, coming off of screens with an intuitive sense of where the defense is situated. Shaina has long had a solid 10 foot pull up off the dribble, often utilizing it when the defense has worked hard to get back in front and protect the rim, trying to prevent a lay-up. Nonetheless, she’s a great shooter off the pass, setting her feet and releasing the jumper quickly, giving the defense a blip of a second to react. Ultimately, Keough is an incredibly instinctual player and understands spacing well, so well that she finds little mid-range pockets to take advantage of consistently.
Lexi Rabidoux, 5’5 G – Blueprint Basketball Class of ’25
A multi-faceted offensive player with the ability to handle the ball or play off of it, Lexi causes headaches for defenses. Due to her skill, patience and wit, she’s the type who rarely ever gets sped up. Quick and equipped with a savvy basketball IQ, Rabidoux is one who has a knack for finding open spaces on the floor. She can snake her way into a mid-range jumper off of a pick and roll, or perhaps she sets an on-ball screen and rolls to the short corner or elbow to stick the jumper. Lexi can make something out of anything, utilizing pass fakes to make space for a shot, or spacing to receive a kick out from a scrum under the hoop. Rabidoux is a sly glue player who is highly efficient, especially around the hoop and in the 10–16 ft. range.
Maya Auger, 5’6 CG – Blueprint Basketball Class of ’24
Auger is a hard-working, no-frills player. Maya uses her frame well, taking advantage of defenders by running them into screens and exhausting them with her strength. She is comfortable with the ball in her hands, using on-ball screens wisely to get to the elbow or short corner for jumpers. Crafty off the ball too, she is great at running her defender ragged by utilizing ball screens and moving across the floor into open space. Her favorite spots are in the short corner and elbow regions, and she’s happy to pull from either side of the hoop. Nonetheless, Maya doesn’t force her shots. Auger is a highly sensible player who thrives with lots of movement and team play.