Layering Your Offense: Transition Flow, Ball Screen Actions & Built In Counters

with Duane Simpkins;
American University Head Coach;
2025 Patriot League Regular Season Champions;
2025 Patriot League Tournament Champions;
George Mason University Assistant Coach (2015-2023);
UNC Greensboro Assistant Coach (2012-2015);
Towson Basketball Operations Coordinator (2011-2012);
St. Albans School (DC) Head Basketball Coach;
Sidwell Friends School (DC) Head Basketball Coach;
Bishop O'Connell HS (VA) Assistant Coach;
Played professionally from 1997-2003 in the USBL, ABA, and in Italy and China;
Played college basketball at Maryland for Gary Williams;
Played for Morgan Wootten at DeMatha Catholic HS (MD);
McDonald's All-American (1992)

In this detailed video, Coach Duane Simpkins reveals the offensive system that helped power American University to a Patriot League Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2025. His approach focuses on building an offense through layers that combine pace, spacing, and connected actions to consistently generate quality scoring opportunities.

Coach Simpkins begins by explaining the core principles that allow a team to play fast without losing offensive structure. He outlines the importance of transition organization, offensive spacing, and simple penetration rules that guide both baseline and middle drives. These rules ensure players understand how to maintain spacing while attacking the defense and creating natural scoring opportunities.

With the foundation established, Simpkins demonstrates how to generate early offense with a seven-second mindset. Coaches will see how transition flow leads directly into organized offensive actions, allowing teams to create advantages before the defense becomes fully set.

The video then moves into the ball-screen portion of the offense. Simpkins introduces two primary ball-screen concepts designed to immediately pressure the defense. The Throwback Ball Screen creates driving lanes and includes a post-entry counter that punishes defensive overplays. The Two Behind Ball Screen attacks the middle of the floor while spacing shooters around the perimeter, forcing defenders into difficult help decisions.

From there, Simpkins builds additional layers into the offense with his Get Action, which flows naturally into a five-out alignment and keeps both the ball and players moving. Coaches will see how these actions connect with one another so the offense remains fluid rather than relying on isolated plays.

The system continues to expand through a series of plays including Swing, Away Actions, and multiple dead-ball options. Each action includes built-in reads and counters that help players respond effectively to defensive adjustments while maintaining offensive rhythm.

The video also features post-scoring opportunities through the Grenade Action, giving post players an additional option when traditional scoring opportunities are not available. This action places defenders in difficult positions and opens new ways to generate points within the structure of the offense.

Simpkins closes by discussing how coaches can evaluate their own offensive systems to identify weaknesses and build additional layers that keep the offense adaptable throughout the season.

This video presents a clear blueprint for coaches who want to modernize their offense with pace, spacing, and connected actions. By layering transition, ball screens, and play families into one cohesive system, Coach Simpkins provides a practical framework that helps teams create advantages, generate quality shots, and sustain offensive pressure throughout the game.

Customer Review: 5 Out of 5 Stars!
"Great video with a lot of actions that can be infused into different offenses. Coach Simpkins provides an incredible wealth of knowledge and plays in one short video. I was very impressed with his teaching ability and would recommend this video to anyone looking for ideas to add to a 4-out or 5-out ball-screen motion offense."

54 minutes. 2026.