Building the DeMatha Team Defense

with Mike Jones,
Old Dominion Head Coach;
Maryland Assistant Coach from 2023 to 2024;
Virginia Tech Associate Head Men's Basketball Coach from 2021 to 2023;
DeMatha Catholic High School (MD) Head Coach from 2002 through 2021;
2006 US High School National Champions;
all-time record at DeMatha of 511-119 (.811 winning percentage) ;
9x Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Regular Season Champions;
8x Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament Champions;
4x Maryland Private School Tournament championships;
6x Abe Pollin City titles;
6x Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament Champions;
at DeMatha, guided six players who went on to play in the NBA;
played collegiately (Old Dominion), professionally in the CBA and internationally;
2019 USA Basketball Developmental Coach of the Year;
2019 USA Basketball Men's U16 National Team Coach (Gold medal at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Brazil);
3x USA Nike Hoop Summit Team Head Coach (2013, 2014 and 2018)

The old sports adage "Defense wins championships" has been repeatedly proven by DeMatha Catholic High School. The basketball program is built on a strong defense that over recent years has produced dozens of championship teams in the highly competitive Washington D.C. area.

In this exclusive video course, longtime DeMatha head basketball coach Mike Jones shares the strategies that have made his school a defensive powerhouse. He begins by emphasizing proper defensive rotation to minimize middle penetration. Jones focuses on ball pressure as a way to challenge shooters and not have to worry about getting beat off the first dribble.

He shares several critical principles for developing a strong defense such as:

• Beating the offense to the middle of the floor
• Keeping the ball on one side of the court
• Moving on the pass
• Communicating non-stop with teammates

To help perfect defensive rotations, Jones offers a series of 10 drills to create and sustain effective defensive play. He reinforces basic techniques with advanced strategies like the "Perfect Slide," 1-on-1 full-court slides and closeout drills. He also teaches the "Wildcat Series" for staying low on defense and closing out strong.

A detailed explanation of the DeMatha Shell Drill is also presented, covering every aspect of proper defense rotation. In the 5-man shell drill, Coach Jones explains the proper techniques for covering the high and low post, denial defense, covering cutters and communicating on weakside help.

Order this video today to implement Mike Jones' concept into your program. Learn how to dominate the defensive end with perfect rotations used by one of the nation's most celebrated high school basketball programs.

71 minutes. 2011.