When I got a call from an NBA Scout that he was coming to our next game, my stomach would start to churn.  I knew why he was coming.

Having not one, but two 7 footers on the team, I would constantly get the same questions from the scouts.  Are they ready and does either have a SKY HOOK?

Game after game in our league and on TV I look for the next Kareem Abdul Jabar as do most scouts and recruiters.  Alas, none to be found.  Kareem seems to have taken the secret into retirement with him?  Here are reasons YOU big guys out their better dig out some of the classic Lakers games and study them, watch his moves, footwork etc.

Now I’m going to give you a pop quiz.

1. How many times was Jabar’s shot blocked?
2. How many angles and or sides of the court could Jabber shoot the hook from?
3. How many all-star games did Jabar play in because of the hook?
4. Did the hook shot make Jabar one the top fifty players of all time?
5. Did it make Jabar a Hall of Fame player on the first ballot.

Bonus Questions
A. How many Millions of Dollars did Kareem make in his career?
B. If you learned the Sky Hook could it elevate your game enough for the next level?
(Answers at the end of the article)

Why add the sky hook to your bag of tricks?  Simple, every big man wants to turn to the basket and every third time or less there is a Jack Rabbit looking swat it away.  This especially applies to the 6’8” and up guy who runs into a 7 foot plus guy.

The Secret!

The hook shot is a very simple move “with practice.” 
Here are the basics in a step by step method.

1. Position your feet between the first and second blocks on the three-second lane, left or right depends on if you are LEFT or RIGHT handed.
2. When you receive the pass you can take a dribble or simply move toward the center of the lane.
3. As you land your pivot, you hold the ball with two hands and move both away from the basket in a clockwise circle or ark move
4. You thrust your outside foot / knee in the air; the same way you do doing lay-ups
5. As you leave your feet your non shooting hand goes straight in the air and acts as a shield against your defender. 
6. Your shooting hand has the ball and continues the ark until you release the ball somewhere around 10 or 11 o’clock.
7. IMPORTANT:  you release the ball the same way as you shoot a jump shot.  Your fingers must be pointing to the basket.  It will feel awkward at first but you will feel it in time.  (It’s like standing and moving your arms directly to the left or right, like you stretch to see your wing span)
8. The ending follow through; you will see that your hands are about two feet apart in the air, both arms straight up, TALL.

Why it works so well?  Your release point is almost three feet away from the person trying to block it.  At the point when the ball is over your defenders head it almost at 12 to thirteen feet in the air!  There are several moves that work with this shot but we will talk about them in the next articles.

Practice:  Start shooting the shot to another player or pick a spot on the wall.  You will find the ball may float left or right and that means your shooting hand release is off the mark and you are not pointing your hand directly at the basket.

Remember these easy steps.  Step to position, ark your arms, release at top of jump, use off arm to protect.

Again;
STEP – ARK- RELEASE- PROTECT.
 
Answers:
1. Never to my knowledge, when he shoots the hook
2. Both sides and the corners.  Kareem used the bank hook on the off side of the ball.
3. All he wanted
4. What do you think, sure it did
5. Absolutely

Bonus questions:
A. $$$ millions 
B. In my mind you have to be insane not to have this move as your number 1 move, that is if you want the big bucks and play at the next level!! 

Try it!