How can I play like myself again?

Question
Hi Coach,

At middle school, I play the center position. I'm 5'10, or somewhere near that. I used to be able to block most of the shots that players bring into the paint area, and even players who are taller than me. I'm also used to be able to gobble up rebounds at will. Not saying I am as good as Dwight Howard, but I played exactly like him. Helping out on the weak-side, swatting shots, and rebounding at will. But now I am in high school, all that seemed to changed. I rarely able to block shots that I used to be so comfortable swatting away. Now, when I try to block a shot, I get desperate, and it makes my timing horrible. In terms of rebound, I seem to not hustle at rebound or not try as hard as I used to. Worst yet, even if I try to focus on grabbing a few rebounds I can't get that because for some reason I can't read the rebound like I used to. They always seem to bounce away from me. It is my part on not able to read the rebounds?  

It is just weird that I take such a step backward. I understand that High-School basketball can be more competitive. But what makes me lose confident now is that am I only dominate because of my height? Now that people have the height to match me, I'm not a good player at all?

So my question is: If possible, how can I play like I used to?
Or is there anything I can do to improve my game so I can adjust to high school basketball?

Thanks

Answer
Hi David -
1st I apologize for the delay in answering you, my Step-Mom passed away last week.

2nd; you ask if you can ever play like you used to?  David, that's the problem. you are playing like you used to but everyone else is playing at a higher level.

The situation you're facing right now is really no different than the situation you faced when first beginning to learn basketball.  You probably went right to the center position; you didn't need to dribble well, you really didn't need to be an extraordinary passer or really quick on your feet.  All you needed to do was be tall and get in the way of the ball.

Someone taught you to be a center, now you need to learn to be a basketball player too.  
A good thing is you will always be able to transfer your center skills to any position, the tough thing is you need to learn how to play basketball and not be the center.

You need to learn to dribble and pass and run and understand the game from a forward's perspective and a shooting guard's perspective.  I don't know anything about your potential height however, if you don't plan on making it to the 6'9"s or higher I'd convert myself to a shooting guard.  You'll be playing right smack dab in the middle of the game again but from the outside looking in instead of the inside of the game looking out.

As a shooting guard you need to be a rebounder, but not the best rebounder on the team.  As a shooting guard you need to be a passer, but not the best passer on the team.  As a shooting guard you need to be a dribbler, but not the best dribbler on the team.  
At shooting guard you need to be the best shooter on the team.  
You've contacted the best shooting coach you're ever gonna find, I can help you with your shooting but you'll also need to put in lots of practice time on your other skills to get them where they need to be.

This training will also make you a great small forward, because of how you'll adapt your center skills to shooting guard skills.  Your major is shooting guard, your minor is small forward.  If you major in shooting guard and you grow to 6'9" you'll be a better small forward for the shooting guard training and experience.

For every position you should learn to juggle really well and learn to skip rope really well.  You'll also need to develop your court vision or peripheral vision.

Go to BasketballShootingCoach (dot) com and download the book, "Basketball - It's All About The Shot."  You will find assistance in all these areas in the book, you will find assistance in all these areas on the website also.  Most of the info at either place is not duplicated at the other place.

Go to the website and study.  Download the free book and study.  Implement what is most important in your mind first, then implement the second most important, etc.  Keep in touch, keep me apprised of your progress, and thanks for contacting me.

Coach Jones,
BasketballShootingCoach.com