Originally Posted by
Devil in the Blue Dress
Perhaps younger players don't see as much value in free throw shooting as in other ways of making points which can be flashier. It takes a lot of practice and discipline to groove accurate foul shooting form so that it truly becomes automatic. Without such dedicated practice which includes the mental side of the shot (concentration, visualization, etc.), there's little chance for developing reliable muscle memory.
Think back to one of Bill Foster's teams known for having a team average of about making about 80% of their free throws. They didn't just develop that after they got to Duke. They built on the skills they already had.