When catching the basketball the most important physical resource you have is, not your hands, but your eyes. First locate the ball with your eyes and watch it all the ay into your hands. Position your hands so your fingers are pointing towards the ball, slightly out with your thumbs up. This forms a pocket for the ball. Arms are extended, slightly bent. When receiving the ball - a pass, stealing a pass or a rebound - always step towards the ball and meet the ball. Catch the ball away from your body - don't let the ball get too close to the body.

Practice catching trying the following:

Pound dribbles - picking the ball up off the dribble to pass or shoot involves catching the ball. Pound the ball hard and low and quickly pick it up. Alternate hands - right / left. Add a pound, cross pick up. Add complexity as you gain confidence.

Wall Dribbles - dribble off the wall at shoulder height, catching the ball with one or two hands and repeating. Work both the left and right hand. Add complexity by going from pound to wall, cross over to wall etc.

Backboard Tosses - Toss the ball up off the backboard and step to the ball ,jump and catch it. Practice both two hand and one hand catches.

Combination Drill - Incorporate all three of the previous drills - use some type of pound dribble - catch it, pass it off the wall, step to it, toss it off the backboard and catch it.

Block & Tuck - see the Block & Tuck Drill and Catching (both under Speed and Agility Drills)