Basketball conditioning

McGee in best shape of his career Scout College Basketball - Seattle,WA,USA "I've really picked up my conditioning and slimmed down a lot. I'm feeling real good," McGee said. "I've lost about 15 pounds. I want to play at around 170 ... See all stories on this topic

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Get Hyped up the Right Way

Basketball players are constantly moving, practicing, and playing. It slows you down when you're working so hard on an empty stomach, or even worse, one full of all the wrong foods. Have a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. It's a whole grain with soluble fiber, which means it soaks up unwanted fat and cholesterol in your blood, making sure you're not carrying around any extra baggage throughout your workouts. It also contains the GOOD carbohydrates, meaning your energy is increased, more efficient, and longer lasting. It slows the absorption of glucose, so you won't feel too hungry as you work hard, either. Add some milk, fruit, or nuts to give it some more taste, and enjoy your whole day!

Increase Your Vertical with Just a Little Weight

Get the most out of your jump shots and rebounds simply by adding a couple little twists to a normal squat. Grab two equal dumbbells (anywhere from 5-20 lbs. each), and grab one end of both weights. Place the middle of the dumbbell on top of your upper traps (between your neck and shoulder) and slant it down so it's just barely touching your back. Sink down into a squatting position making sure your body weight is pushing toward your heels, not your toes, and lower all the way down into a "seated" position. As soon as you are lowered, hold on to the weights and explode off of the ground, jumping as high as you can, landing completely balanced on both feet with your knees bent and ready to push back down into another squat. Repeat about 12-15 times, increasing/decreasing weight as needed.