The art of shooting a 3-pointer

UTRGV’s The Rider took on a mission this week to better help students understand the art of shooting a 3-point shot.

As stated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association website, NCAA.org, the new 3-point line for men is at the international basketball distance of 22 feet, 1 ¾ inches.

However, for women the 3-point arc sits at 20 feet, 9 inches.

Redshirt junior guard Amara Graham explained some of the challenges athletes face when it comes to shooting a 3-pointer.

“One challenge I always say is, I mean, on a pass out from the middle going out to the 3-point line is always gonna be players running out at you,” Graham said. “So, I mean if you feel like they’re closer to you, you might not be able to get the shot off just because you think they might be able to block it. So, at that point you might have to pump fake and take a side step. That’s an even harder 3-point shot coming off on one dribble. So, I think that’s a challenge, the defense running out at you to defend a 3-point shot.”

Nevertheless, she was able to provide The Rider with some tips on how to properly convert a 3-point shot from that distance.

“A 3-point shot in a game of basketball for women’s right now is a 20 feet, 9 inches shot away from the basket,” Graham said. “It’s a jump shot. Again, both feet have to be behind the line. It’s a little harder just ’cause of the length away.”

She also mentioned how the new distance might affect the shot.

“It might be a little harder to make just because it’s further, but I think since it’s further [it] also spaces out the court. So, a defense would have to either, if they stay on, I think it’s a little easier shot actually, because you might get it off quicker than a layup usually ’cause there’s defense on you already.”

The Rider asked how Graham would explain that answer for someone who is just beginning to play basketball.

“It all starts with your form,” Graham replied. “That’s any shot on the court. I also think, if you’re just starting, then you should probably start in a little closer, just because, again, being that far from the basket is gonna be harder to get it in the target. So, I think if you perfect your closer shots first, I think the 3-point line, once you are able to move back … [it is] easier for you to shoot it.”

UTRGV Men’s Basketball Head Coach Lew Hill understands the importance of scoring a 3-pointer.

“We like to shoot threes,” Hill said. “We work on threes. That’s part of our culture. That’s part of our DNA and that’s what we wanna do. A game we try to shoot 35 percent and above and just play freely.”

The Rider finished with its mission asking Graham about any specific 3-point shots she remembers throughout her trajectory as a basketball athlete.

“Yeah, one of our home games this year the shot clock was running down,” Graham replied. “It’s, like, three on the shot clock and I get a pass out from the middle of the key, but all the way out and I’m like at the volleyball line on our court and I had to shoot it. I mean, it went in, I don’t know, but it was a pretty far shot. I remember that one.”

She said how the game of basketball is changing.

“Before it was like, ‘Get to the rim. Get to the rim.’ But now, the 3-point shot is actually a really big part of our game,” Graham said. “If you would like to be a good basketball player, I feel like the 3-point shot, if you’re a guard at any point, it’s really crucial to be on the court.”