Post Move Counters: Jump Hook, Up-and-Under, and Face-Up

What it is

• A coordinated arsenal of individual post-scoring counters — the jump hook, the up-and-under, the drop-step counter, and the face-up jab

Why it matters

• A single post move is easily scouted; a counter for each defensive reaction makes the post player unguardable one-on-one.
• The face-up game lets bigger post players punish smaller switches and attack closeouts in the modern switch-heavy game.
• These are high-percentage, foul-drawing scores near the rim that anchor an inside-out offense.

How it works

• Jump hook: turn over the lead shoulder toward the middle, raise the ball with a high, soft arc off the hand away from the defender, and shoot over the contest with the body shielding the defender.
• Up-and-under: sell a shot or jump-hook fake to get the defender airborne, then step through under the raised arm with the non-pivot foot, keeping the pivot foot down until release, for an open finish.
• Drop-step: feel the defender on your back, drop the baseline foot past him, and power into a layup or dunk; the up-and-under is its counter when he holds ground.
• Face-up: square up off a pivot, then use a jab, shot, or one-dribble drive to attack a defender who plays too soft or has switched onto a mismatch.
• A coordinated arsenal of individual post-scoring counters — the jump hook, the up-and-under, the drop-step counter, and the face-up jab — that let a post player respond to how the defender plays each catch rather than relying on a single move.

Reads and counters

• - Defender on the high side (toward the middle) → drop-step baseline. - Defender sitting low/behind → middle jump hook. - Defender flying at the shot fake → up-and-under step-through. - Smaller or off-balance defender / soft coverage → face-up and attack.
• Defender on the high side (toward the middle) → drop-step baseline.
• Defender sitting low/behind → middle jump hook.
• Defender flying at the shot fake → up-and-under step-through.
• Smaller or off-balance defender / soft coverage → face-up and attack.

Teaching cues

• Pair every move with its counter in drills so the read becomes automatic, not pre-decided.
• Emphasize footwork and a strong pivot before any move — balance creates the counter options.
• Teach players to make the catch, read the defender for a beat, then react rather than rushing into a predetermined move.

Bilingual terms

Learn before and after

These graph neighbors help place Post Move Counters: Jump Hook, Up-and-Under, and Face-Up in the larger basketball map.

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