Princeton offense. . . Just the name conjures up images of teams scoring backdoor layups as their defenders’ heads are left spinning.

Done right, it’s beautiful basketball.

While almost every coach admires the effectiveness of the Princeton Offense, many are intimidated by the thought of teaching it.

Don’t let that deter you any longer. You don’t have to be able to get into Princeton to run it well!

In the Aaron Jennings Princeton Offense System, veteran college coach Aaron Jennings down the Princeton Offense in ways that make it simple to teach and learn but miserable to guard.

One way he does this is by showing how you can use similar plays and formations against both man and zone defenses. No more teaching completely different offenses.

Instead players learn to look for different options within the same framework.

Here’s an example of how he does that as part of the Chin series.

What Is Princeton Chin Series?

The Chin series brings your post player to the high post.

This opens up the baseline for drives. It also allows your post to set back screens, flare screens and ball screens for perimeter players without having to handle the ball. 

Chin can be used to run a single play or it can be run as a continuity, giving you flexibility. Even better, Coach Jennings shows how you can seamlessly morph from Chin series into other Princeton alignments within a single possession.

Princeton Chin V Man To Man - Chin: One

This play changes the nature of the screens from the traditional Chin action. That creates options the defense is not ready for. The play ends with a step up screen, which is not seen a lot at the middle and high school level.

• 1 passes to 2 as in the traditional Chin action.

• 2 reverses the ball to 3 and sprints through to the same side corner.

• 1 runs down the lane to the same side block.

• 4 curls off 5.

• If 4 is open, 3 should hit them for a layup.

• After screening for 4, 5 immediately turns and down screens for 1.

• Player 1 sprints to the top and catches a pass from 3.

• If 1 isn’t open to shoot, 5 sprints up and sets a step up ball screen.

• 1 looks to attack to the outside.

• 5 rolls.

• 4 flashes to the free throw line area.

Coaching Tips:

• In frame 1, 3 has the option to rip opposite on the catch and attack the rim to their left, since there is no baseline help.

• If 1 passes to 4 in the last frame, 5 should look to reverse pivot and seal for a hi-lo pass.

• 5’s should screen the back of x1 on the step up screen so that if they switch the defender is on the wrong side.

Princeton Chin V Zone

When you run chin action against zone, there are two primary scoring options. The first is passing to the 5 after they set the back screen. The second is dribbling up from the wing, which lifts the bottom defender. This opens up the corner for the guard filling out.

• 1 passes to 2. As that pass happens, 5 comes up to the elbow.

• 2 immediately reverses the ball to 4.

• 5 back screens for 1. After the backscreen, 5 cuts to the ball side high post.

• 4 looks to 5 in the high post (or 1 at the rim).

• If x5 comes up, 5 looks to hit 1 behind the defense.

• If x5 stays low, 5 should shoot.

• If 5 is not open, 4 dribbles up.

• 4’s dribble cues 1 to fill the ballside corner and 5 to dive.

• 4 looks behind them to 1 in the corner. 1 can shoot if x4 has lifted. Or 1 can look to 5 at the rim.

• If nothing is open, 4 continues dribbling to the ballside slot.

• 2 bumps over

• 1 fills the wing.

• The offense is back in the original formation and can repeat the action on the other side.

Coaching Tips

• After setting the back screen, 5 must find the open spot in the zone when flashing to the ball side. This might be at the elbow. It might be a little lower.

• The guard coming off the back screen must get all the way to the rim. This positions them behind x5, creating uncertainty for that defender.

• If the ball hits the 5, the 3 players on the perimeter must shift to position themselves for a kick out pass. They don’t want to be 3 in a row (positioned directly behind a defender where a pass can’t be made).

Ivy League Offense Made Simple

The Princeton Offense doesn’t have to be hard to implement. By using Coach Jenning’s implementation methods, your players will be able to run this legendary offense.

The combination of ball and player movement makes the Princeton Offense nearly impossible to guard. Now, you can get those benefits whether you are facing man or zone, meaning there’s no way for defenses to slow you down.

Learn more about Aaron Jennings’ Princeton Offense System. 

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