4-Out 1-In
Formation: Four perimeter players, one big (usually Post Scorer or Versatile Big) positioned in the paint (low post, elbow, or high post depending on possession type).
Team Offense
5-Out
Formation: All five players on or above the three-point line.
Direct answer
What is 5-Out?
Formation: All five players on or above the three-point line.
Quick facts
| Category | Team Offense |
|---|---|
| Diagram | five-out-spacing |
| Source volume | Basketball Knowledge Vault/vol4_ncaa_systems_archetypes_scouting.md |
What it is
- Formation: All five players on or above the three-point line.
How it works
- Structure: Primary Ball Handler initiates from top of key
- Structure: Four perimeter players (guards, wings, possibly a Stretch Big) form the perimeter
- Structure: No interior players post up
- Structure: Spacing is spread (maximum floor spacing)
- Core Actions: PnR at top: Primary initiates with either wing or big
Reads and counters
- The driver reads his defender's hip: if help stays home read the open lane and finish, if help rotates kick to the spaced shooter.
- On the top PnR the handler reads the big's coverage — attack downhill versus drop, reject and split versus hedge, and hit the short roll versus blitz.
- After penetration the passer reads the low man — a stunt-and-recover means swing it on, a full commit means skip to the weakside corner.
- Off-ball cutters read a defender turning his head to the ball and backdoor-cut into the vacated rim with everyone above the arc.
- The screener reads the switch and immediately seals or pops, attacking the new mismatch before weakside help can dig.
Teaching cues
- Drive and kick, spray to the corner
- Fill behind, keep the floor balanced
- Cut hard when your man turns his head
- Screen the screener, then pop
- Punish the switch — seal early
Bilingual terms
| English | 5-Out |
|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 五外（5-Out） |
| Traditional Chinese | 5-Out |
Related concepts
Offensive System Families
An offensive system is defined by three elements: (1) spacing formation, (2) core actions, (3) role assignments.
Plays Through the Archetype Lens
Setup: Interior big (Post Scorer or Versatile Big) receives entry pass.
Post Split
Setup: Interior big (Post Scorer or Versatile Big) receives entry pass.
ICE (In-and-out Contain Eliminate) Coverage
Ball-screen defender (POA) forces handler away from screen (ices the screen by overplaying one side)
5-Out Offense: Foundation
The modern spacing shell: five players outside the arc to open the paint, stretch help, and turn every drive into a read.