1-4 High Basketball Plays: 19 Sets vs Man-to-Man

These 1-4 high basketball plays all start from the same family of looks. The 1-4 high starts with 1 holding the ball at the top of the key while the other four players line up across the free-throw line extended, two at the elbows and two on the wings. Some sets use the 1-4 high stack instead, with two players lined up together on one side of the floor. This page draws 19 sets against man-to-man, each with its type, its action and every diagram frame in order.

The lane starts empty, and each set fills it with screens and cuts: back screens, down screens, cross screens, handoffs and ball screens. For how to call and practice sets like these, see basketball quick hitters. For every kind of set, start at basketball plays.

How to Read These 1-4 High Diagrams

Each set is drawn frame by frame, and the line under each diagram says who moves and where. The basket is at the bottom of every diagram. Sides are named as a player sees them facing the basket, so the left wing is on the right side of the picture. A solid arrow is a cut, a dashed arrow is a pass, a wavy line is a dribble and a line ending in a short bar is a screen. The diagram guide covers every symbol.

14 Hi Raise

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 | Against: man

1 dribbles to the wing. 2 cuts through and screens for 4. At the same time 5 screens 2's man, so the screener gets screened. The ball comes back around through 2, and 2 sets a down screen for 4.

Frame 1. 1 dribbles to the wing. 2 cuts through and screens for 4, who cuts to the basket. 5 screens the screener and 2 comes to the top of the key.

Frame 2. 1 reverses the ball through 2 to 3. 2 down screens for 4 and cuts to the corner. 5 sets a wing screen and 4 sets a second ball screen. 3 comes off both screens to make a play.

1-4 High Quick Hitter 10: 4 ISO

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 high | Against: man

1 dribbles at the wing. 2 v-cuts, then back screens for 4, and 4 dives to the block. 5 steps out and down screens for 2. 2 pops for the three.

Frame 1. 1 dribbles at the right wing. 2 v-cuts and back screens for 4, who dives to the ball-side block. 5 steps out.

Frame 2. 5 down screens for 2, who pops out for the three. 1 looks to 4 posting on the block or to 2 on the pop. 3 goes to the corner.

14 High Ball Screen

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 high | Against: man

1 passes to 2. 3 dives on the weak side. 4 and 5 set a double screen, and 3 comes up to the top of the key to catch. Then 5 ball screens for 3 while 4 down screens for 1.

Frame 1. 1 passes to 2 and cuts past 5 to the ball-side block. 3 dives to the weak-side block.

Frame 2. 4 and 5 screen together for 3, who comes up to the top of the key, and 2 hits him.

Frame 3. 5 comes up and ball screens for 3, then rolls to the basket. 3 dribbles off the screen. 1 cuts along the baseline to the far side.

Aggie

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 high stack | Against: man

1 hits 2 and cuts to the corner. 4 sets a cross screen for 5, then pops to catch and works the high-low seal. To finish, 2 down screens and 1 comes off it into a handoff.

Frame 1. 1 hits 2, then cuts to the ball-side corner. 4 sets a cross screen for 5, who cuts above or below the screen to the block.

Frame 2. 2 looks inside to 5 and passes to 4, who pops out at the top of the key. 5 ducks under and seals, and 4 looks for the high-low pass to 5.

Frame 3. 4 dribbles to the right elbow as 2 down screens for 1. 1 comes off the screen, takes the hand-off and dribbles across. 4 cuts to the block.

Frame 4. 1 can shoot or pass high-low to 5 sealing inside. 2 moves up the wing.

Frame 5. 1 passes to 2 and cuts to the far corner. 5 cuts to the top of the key. 2 looks inside to 4, who seals his defender.

Frame 6. 2 hits 5 at the top of the key. 4 seals his defender and steps across the lane for the high-low pass from 5.

Elbow Middle

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 high stack | Against: man

1 passes to 4, cuts through, and sets a flex screen for 3. Then 5 sets a down screen for 1, who cuts out to the arc. If 5 has a mismatch, 5 posts up instead.

Frame 1. 1 passes to 4, cuts through the middle and flex screens for 3. 3 cuts along the baseline and 4 looks to hit him.

Frame 2. 5 down screens for 1 and steps back to post. 1 cuts out to the arc and 4 passes to him.

Frame 3. 1 shoots the three or passes inside to 5 posting up.

Greenberg VT Handoff

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 high | Against: man

1 hits 4. 5 dives, back screens for 3, then down screens for 1. 4 dribbles at 1 for the handoff. 4 and 5 then set a double screen for 3 coming to the wing.

Frame 1. 4 steps out and 1 passes to him. 1 cuts through the lane to 3's side. 5 dives to the block.

Frame 2. 5 back screens for 3, who cuts across the lane to the far block. 5 then down screens for 1. 4 dribbles at 1 and hands off to him.

Frame 3. 4 and 5 set a double screen and 3 runs the baseline off it to the wing. 1 dribbles to the top of the key.

Hoyas-21

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 high stack | Against: man

This is the counter when the flex-cut side gets jammed. 2 steps out and back screens for 1. 4 hits 1 for the three. 5 cuts through the paint.

Frame 1. 5 cuts into the lane and 4 looks to hit him. 4 can also pass out to 3.

Frame 2. 2 steps out and back screens for 1, who comes off to the wing. 5 cuts through the lane and 4 looks to hit him.

Frame 3. 4 passes to 1 on the wing for the three.

Pitt 14 Big/Change

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 | Against: man

2 and 3 pop out to the wings. 1 hits 2, cuts middle and back screens for 5. 4 pops and screens for 1.

Frame 1. 2 and 3 pop out to the wings, and 1 hits 2 and cuts to the middle of the lane.

Frame 2. 1 back screens for 5, who cuts to the basket. 4 pops out and 2 passes to him.

Frame 3. 4 screens for 1 at the free throw line and 1 comes up to the top of the key.

1-4 High Quick Hitter 8: Strong

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 high | Against: man

1 dribble enters to the wing. The wing cuts to the far corner. 5 screens for 4, and 4 dives. The ball swings back to 5. 5 looks high-low to 4, or to 2 coming off a down screen from 3.

Frame 1. 1 dribbles to the wing as 2 cuts through to the far corner. 5 screens for 4, who dives to the low block, then 5 shapes up to the top of the key. 1 looks to 4.

Frame 2. 1 reverses the ball to 5. 3 down screens for 2, who comes up off it. 4 seals and 5 looks to feed 4 inside or hit 2.

Pitt 14 Big

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 | Against: man

1 passes to 5, then back screens for 4. 4 curls to the block. 3 goes backdoor to the corner. 4 and 5 then screen for 2.

Frame 1. 1 passes to 5, then goes through and back screens for 4, who curls to the block. 3 cuts backdoor and through to the opposite corner.

Frame 2. 1 pops out and catches 5's pass. 4 and 5 then screen for 2, who runs the baseline under 4's screen and curls up around 5's.

Zalgiris 1-4 High Stack Iverson

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 high stack | Against: man

2 takes a wide cut to the far corner. 3 runs the Iverson cut across the tops of 4 and 5. 5 screens for 3, and 3 curls to the rim. 1 passes to 4, and 4 finds 3.

Frame 1. 2 wide cuts to the other corner. 3 makes the Iverson cut across under 4 and 5, and 5 screens hard for 3, who curls around it to the rim. 1 hits 4, and 4 finds 3.

1-4 High Quick Hitter 3: 34 Overload

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 high | Against: man

4 catches 1's pass, and 1 cuts to the corner. 5 moves to the ball-side block to load that side. 4 dribbles into a handoff to 3. 3 drives and kicks to 2, or throws the lob to 5.

Frame 1. 4 catches 1's pass, and 1 cuts to the corner. 5 moves to the ball-side block to overload that side of the floor. 2 spaces to the corner.

Frame 2. 4 dribbles at 3 and hands off to him. 3 drives to score, kicks to 2 in the corner if 2's defender helps, or lobs to 5 if his defender helps.

Blazers

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 high | Against: man

1 throws it to 5 and down screens for 2. 2 takes the handoff from 5. 4 dives. 3 sprints to the corner. 4 and 1 then set a double screen, and 3 curls to the top of the key.

Frame 1. 1-4 high. 1 has the ball at the top of the key, 4 and 5 at the elbows, 3 and 2 on the wings.

Frame 2. 1 passes to 5 and cuts down to 2's spot, and 2 comes up toward 5 for the handoff. 4 dives to the block and 3 sprints along the baseline to the far corner.

Frame 3. 4 and 1 double screen for 3, who curls up to the top of the key. 2 dribbles away to the wing and 5 cuts across the lane.

Circle 2 - Shuffle 1

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 | Against: man

1 passes in to 3, then screens for 4. At the same time 2 cuts to the ball-side corner. 3 hits 4, then screens for 1. 5 screens for 2. If 2 is covered, 4 gives it to 1 and screens for 3.

Frame 1. 1 passes to 3 and screens for 4, who fills the point. 1 moves down to the ball side block. On the pass, 2 cuts hard to the ball side corner. 3 holds until 2 gets to the corner.

Frame 2. 3 hits 4, then cuts down to screen for 1, as 5 screens for 2. 2 cuts off the back of 3 and uses 5's screen, catches 4's pass and attacks the rim. 1 fills the vacated wing.

Frame 3. 2 was not open, so 4 hits 1, then cuts down through the lane and screens for 3. 3 uses the screen to get free at the point.

Frame 4. 1 passes to 3, who swings the ball to 2 opening up on the wing. On the pass to 2, 1 runs a shuffle cut off 5's back screen, and 2 looks for him.

Frame 5. 2 passes back to 3 and fills the point. 1 comes off the staggered double screen from 4 and 5 to the wing for 3's pass. 4 moves up to the back side elbow and 5 posts hard. 3 cuts through the middle to the back side wing.

Frame 6. 1 has a shot or gets the ball inside to 5 posting. If not, 1 passes to 2 at the point and the offense is reloaded.

1-4 High Man Set 5: 34 Shuffle

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 high | Against: man

5 pops and takes the pass from 1. 2 clears out, and 3 runs a shuffle cut off 4. 1 down screens for 4. 2 then either flex cuts or pops. 4 down screens for 5, and 5 curls.

Frame 1. 5 pops out and catches from 1. 2 clears to the corner. 3 runs a shuffle cut off 4's screen to the block.

Frame 2. 1 down screens for 4, who pops to the key and receives the reversal pass from 5.

Frame 3. 1 clears to the wing. 2 watches his defender and either flex cuts off 3 to the block or pops to the wing off 5's screen. 4 can pass to 2 either way.

Frame 4. 4 passes to 1 and 1 looks inside to 2. 2 clears to the corner. 3 pops to the wing. 4 sets a down screen for 5, who curls to the ball side block.

1-4 Set - Elbow Catch

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 | Against: man

1 passes to 5. 2 goes backdoor while 4 and 3 set a high double screen. 1 cuts for a handoff. 5 hits 2 coming off the double, or gives it back to 1. Then 5 ball screens and rolls.

Frame 1. 1 passes to 5 at the elbow. 2 v-cuts and goes hard backdoor. 4 and 3 come together to form a double screen.

Frame 2. 1 cuts behind 5 for a handoff. 5 keeps the ball and passes to 2, who comes off the double screen from 4 and 3.

Frame 3. If 5 does not pass to 2, he passes back to 1 as 1 pops out. 3 walks toward the baseline.

Frame 4. 5 follows his pass, sets a ball screen for 1 and rolls. 4 pins down for 3 as 2 spaces wide. 1 looks to 5 on the roll and 3 cutting off 4.

24

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 high stack | Against: man

1 dribbles to the right wing, and 2 cuts to the block and back screens for 4. 4 cuts for the layup. 2 pops out at the top of the key.

Frame 1. 1 dribbles toward the right wing. 2 cuts in to the block and back screens for 4, who cuts to the hoop for 1's pass and the layup.

Elbow Weak

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 high stack | Against: man

1 passes to 4. 5 screens twice for 1, and in between 1 screens for 3. If they switch the second screen, 5 slips.

Frame 1. 1 passes to 4. 3 drops down toward the baseline. 5 screens for 1, who cuts over the screen.

Frame 2. 1 screens for 3, who cuts along the baseline toward the rim. 1 comes off 5's second screen out to the arc. If the screen is switched, 5 slips to the hoop. 4 looks to 3 and to 5.

Frame 3. 4 passes to 1, who is open for the shot. 1 can also look inside to 5 posting up.

Lobo

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 1-4 high stack | Against: man

1 hits 2. 4 back screens for 1, and 1 cuts for the lob. 3 then down screens for 1 and cross screens for 5. The back screen and back cut keep repeating.

Frame 1. 1 hits 2. 4 back screens for 1, who cuts hard to the rim for the lob from 2. 5 slides down to the ball-side post for 2's pass.

Frame 2. 4 has stepped out at the top of the key after screening and 2 passes to him. 3 down screens for 1, who comes out toward the wing.

Frame 3. 4 passes to 1. 3 cross screens for 5, who cuts under the screen for 1's pass. 4 can down screen for 3 or screen away for 2.

Frame 4. 4 passes to 1 and screens away for 2. 2 cuts off the screen toward the top of the key.

Frame 5. 1 hits 2 at the top of the key. 5 back screens for 1, who cuts to the rim. 2 looks for 1 on the basket cut. 4 has filled the wing.

Sets against man-to-man from horns, the box and other looks are on set plays vs man-to-man. The screens themselves are taught in basketball screens and down screen basketball, and the reads after a ball screen are in pick and roll. The flex cut that some of these sets borrow is drawn in flex basketball plays. More offense guides are under the Offense hub.

More Set Pages

• Basketball Set Plays vs Man-to-Man: 14 Sets Drawn Step by Step
• Basketball Set Plays vs Zone: 14 Sets for the 2-3 and More
• BLOB Set Plays: 7 Baseline Out of Bounds Sets, Box and Corner
• After Timeout and Continuity Sets: 4 Plays Drawn Step by Step

Back to Basketball Plays and every Offense page.

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