Shoulder strength and lat strength contribute quite a bit to jumping.

i strongly agree... they help more so when transferring energy (aka your momentum shift when using your arms - arm swing) that's why olys such as cleans and snatchs are more important than what they get credit for.

yes olympic lifts are a valuable tool for athletes to use but..................only when the proper base has been built in first your core then strength both upper and lower body while continuan core work...i believe it takes at least 3 years of solid no bs dedicated trainin before olympic lifts become useful and can be added to ones lifting arsenal and even then they should be used only during certain phases of training...but they are nothin special and begginers should never!!!!use olympic lifting methods thinking its the best method for increasing ones vertical jump!!as for the persons question in regards to upper body and vertical jump yes its important!! not as impotant as the lower body but important none the less...and as for joedefrancoes program from what i understand he has a great reputation as a performance trainer to athletes and his program gets results althou i believe its not the best one out their in regards to ones vertical jump.......althou it will still do that!

am wondering if combing vjb and the westside upperbody workout would be a good idea? any suggestions?

I should try this because I am definately a skinny basta*+

Just do th westside program no more than 2-3 times per week! and then i think its fine to combine it with vjb

__________________
Height: 5,9"
Weight: 141lbs/64kgs
Reach : 7,7"
Wing Span : 6,3"
Standing Vertical: 27 inches(last tested-May 1)
Running Vertical: 30 inches
Goal Standing Vertical: 45 inches
Goal Running Vertical: 50 inches
Position: PG, SG, SF
Program: VJB Novice Weighs + Stronglifts 5*5
Soccer-Basketball-Rugby

I dont get it. Can i do this at the same time im doing VJB? What does this program have benefits for?

Ya just do the upper body program

__________________
Height: 5,9"
Weight: 141lbs/64kgs
Reach : 7,7"
Wing Span : 6,3"
Standing Vertical: 27 inches(last tested-May 1)
Running Vertical: 30 inches
Goal Standing Vertical: 45 inches
Goal Running Vertical: 50 inches
Position: PG, SG, SF
Program: VJB Novice Weighs + Stronglifts 5*5
Soccer-Basketball-Rugby

I'm doing Westside this summer... already done about 3 weeks, seeing results already.

I modified the lower body slightly -> am doing 3 sets of 8 squats as opposed to a single set of five reps, but asides from that, I'm following it to a T.