The purpose of the study was to find the effect of plyometric training on performance variables of male college basketball players. Twenty basketball players studying in various courses and departments of Annamalai University with the age group of 19 – 25 years were selected as subjects. They were divided into two equal groups, each group consisted of ten subjects, in which group – I underwent plyometric training and group – II acted as control that did not participate in any special activities apart from their regular curricular and basketball related activities. The training period for this study was three days (alternative days) per week for eight weeks. Prior to and after the training period, the subjects were tested for passing, dribbling and shooting in basketball by administering Johnson Basketball ability test. The Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used as statistical tool to find out any significant difference that was exist between the plyometric training group and control group on selected criterion variables, such as, field goal speed test, basketball throw for accuracy and dribble. The result of the study shows that plyometric training group has improved the basketball playing ability significantly (P > .05) when compared with the control group. It was concluded from the result of the study that the basketball players those who were undergone the plyometric training has improved their basketball playing ability significantly when compared with the basketball players those who were in control group.