How to Use the Gortat Screen in Youth and High School Basketball
I love teaching this one because it’s not flashy, it’s not complicated, and it works at every level — especially with youth and high school players.
It’s called the Gortat Screen — named after Marcin Gortat, who made a career out of doing this exact thing.
He wasn’t the fastest, he wasn’t jumping out of the gym… but he knew how to make life miserable for rim protectors.
What You’re Trying to Do
Forget about setting a screen for the guard’s defender — this is about sealing your own man so they can’t step up to help.
It’s perfect when:
Your guard comes off a ball screen and gets downhill.
Your big isn’t a lob threat but is strong and smart with positioning.
When the help big is taken out of the equation, the lane is wide open.
It’s like pulling the goalie in hockey — your guard is walking in for a layup.
How It Actually Happens
Here’s the flow:
Set a normal ball screen.
Guard comes off — maybe snakes the screen or keeps the defender on their hip.
Instead of rolling all the way, your big plants right outside the restricted area.
Seal the drop big like you’re boxing them out.
Guard finishes without ever seeing the rim protector.
The Art of the Seal
The seal has to be legal.
Think post-up or rebound position:
Feet wide.
Arms in tight.
Hold your ground without leaning or pushing.
Too much contact? Illegal screen.
Too little? Defender slides right around you.
When to Hit It
You’ll get the most out of it when:
The defense is in drop coverage.
Your guard can turn the corner hard.
You’ve got a big who’s willing to do the dirty work.
You can even run it in transition — beat the help big down the floor, seal early, and let your guard attack.
Different Flavors of the Gortat
Post-up seal: Back in like you’re calling for the ball, but you’re actually creating space for the guard.
Box-out seal: After the guard drives, turn and body up like it’s a rebound.
Early seal: Sprint into position before the guard even arrives.
Where Youth and High School Players Mess It Up
Sealing too high — if you’re outside the paint, you’re not helping.
Moving into the seal late — the guard’s already at the rim and you’re still jogging in.
Overdoing the contact — you look like you’re tackling the defender, and the ref blows it dead.
Why I Teach It to Young Players
You don’t need elite athleticism to run this.
You don’t need a 6’10” center who can dunk everything.
You just need a big who can set a solid screen, hold position, and commit to keeping their defender out of the play.
The Gortat Screen turns a “non-scoring” big into a real weapon — not because they’re getting the bucket, but because they’re making sure the guard does.
And for young players, that’s a lesson in winning basketball:
It’s not always about you getting the points — it’s about making the right play for the team.
