Let me tell you something I’ve learned after years of watching and analyzing the game: true elevation in basketball isn’t just about a higher vertical leap. It’s a fusion of relentless skill work and an unshakeable mindset. Watching a performance like NorthPort’s recent outing, where they had multiple players scoring in double figures – Tolentino with 19, Navarro 18, Munzon 15, Bulanadi and Onwubere with 10 each – you see a blueprint. It wasn’t a one-man show. It was a system where different players elevated at different moments, and that’s the essence of becoming a high flyer. Your game soars when your fundamentals are automatic and your mind is prepared for the grind.
So, where do you start? Drills. But not just any drills; they need to be intentional. I’m a firm believer that your practice must be harder than the game. For ball-handling, I don’t just recommend stationary dribbling. Get uncomfortable. Try the “two-ball pound” drill, but add a constraint: do it while walking heel-to-toe along a straight line. It trains coordination under fatigue, mimicking those late-game situations where your legs are gone but you still need to create. Watching a player like Navarro, who put up 18 points, you know his handle is tight enough to get to his spots even when defenders know it’s coming. For shooting, volume alone is a trap. I’ve seen too many players rack up 500 makes in practice with no defense. Instead, I prefer the “shot-after-pass” drill at game speed. Catch, square, shoot, in one fluid motion. Give yourself a goal: 50 makes from five spots around the arc, but you only get three seconds per catch. That simulates the quick-release needed when a teammate like Nelle or Yu (who combined for 12 points and likely several assists) hits you in rhythm. The data from that NorthPort game shows a balanced attack, and that starts with players who can reliably finish plays, not just take shots.
Now, let’s talk about the physicality, the often-overlooked part of being a high flyer. Look at the box score: Cuntapay with 8 points, Taha with 2. Their scoring might seem modest, but their value? Immense. This is where mindset separates good players from essential ones. You need drills that build what I call “contested toughness.” My favorite is the “war rebounding” drill. One offensive player, one defensive player, and a coach shooting (and intentionally missing). It’s a 30-second battle for every board. No fouls called. It’s gritty, it’s exhausting, and it builds the exact tenacity you see from role players who do the dirty work. You won’t see their hustle in a headline, but you see it in the win column. I’d argue that developing this blue-collar mindset is more critical for team success than adding another flashy move to your arsenal. It’s about embracing your role and elevating it, just as that entire NorthPort roster did, with ten different players getting on the scoresheet.
Finally, the mental game. This is non-negotiable. A high flyer’s mindset is built on preparation and resilience. I always tell players to practice visualization not just for making the game-winning shot, but for missing it. How do you respond? Do you hang your head, or do you sprint back on defense like Munzon, who contributed 15 points and, I’d wager, several key defensive plays? Before games, I used to spend 10 minutes in quiet visualization, running through specific actions – fighting over a screen, closing out on a shooter, making the extra pass. This mental rehearsal makes your reactions on the court faster and more decisive. It turns hesitation into instinct. When you see a team distribute scoring so evenly, with a 19-point high and contributions all the way down, it speaks to a collective mindset of readiness. Everyone was prepared to be the option, and no one was fazed by the moment.
In the end, elevating your game is a daily commitment to the details. It’s in the specificity of your drills, the embrace of physical and mental discomfort, and the selfless understanding that sometimes elevating means setting the screen so someone else can fly. The NorthPort stat line, from Tolentino’s 19 to the zeroes of players who may have contributed in other ways, is a perfect metaphor. High-flying basketball is a mosaic. Your job is to polish your piece of it until it shines, trusting that the collective picture will be a masterpiece. Start today. Be intentional, be tough, and most importantly, be ready for your number to be called. That’s how you truly rise above the rim.
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