Know Your Lady Bulldogs: Anne Marie Armstrong
July 11, 2011 | Women's Basketball
July 11, 2011
Armstrong's versatility a blessing for Lady Bulldogs
Anne Marie Armstrong was one of the most versatile athletes in the history of high school sports in Georgia, combining to win 10 state championships in three different sports at the Wesleyan School.
But during a showdown with No. 10 Kentucky in Lexington last season, Armstrong took her skill set to a new level by playing four different positions during Georgia's upset of the Wildcats.
Armstrong has primarily played the '3' position, starting a dozen games there. For the most part, she also has been the first sub at the '4' for Porsha Phillips. At times, Armstrong has shifted to the '2' spot on the perimeter. In Lexington, she saw time at all of those positions, as well as at the '5' as the Georgia put its most athletic lineup on the floor.
"Anne Marie is the most versatile player on our basketball team," Andy Landers said. "I've always thought that having players who can play multiple positions is invaluable to a team. Anne Marie is that type of a player - somone who's multi-talented and who we're able to move around to help the team in a number of different ways."
Armstrong has been developing her athletic abilities as long as she can remember.
"When I was younger I played softball and swam and played basketball and soccer," Armstrong said. "I ended up dropping soccer first and then I swam up until I was 16 and even a little when I was 17 when the team might need me.
"In middle school, I played travel softball and club basketball and basketball for the middle school team," she continued. "It was a tough decision to choose basketball. My softball coaches really wanted me to continue but I had to make a decision and I really really enjoyed basketball more."
That choice proved to be a wise one. In high school. Armstrong led Wesleyan to three state championships in basketball, three in volleyball and she also captured four in track and field (three individual in the high jump and one team title).
"It was really time consuming going from volleyball into basketball and straight into track and field," Armstrong said. "I think it keeps you on your tows and obviously keeps you in shape.
"I really enjoyed playing three sports because it was great to transition to something new," she said. "I wouldn't say that any sport got old but during volleyball it was good to know that basketball season was coming and then it was good to know that track was coming in the spring. I have always enjoyed being around the different people and different teams and different coaches and playing three sports offered that."
Armstrong again faced a selection as her prep career ended, what sport to pursue in college.
"It was a really tough decision," Armstrong said. "I really didn't know what I was going to do until right before I committed to Georgia to play basketball.
"I knew I was going to either play basketball at Georgia or volleyball at Georgia or both at FSU. At the end of the day, I had the best relationship with the coaching staff and the girls on the basketball team at Georgia. I knew I wanted to play for a coach who has accomplished so much like Coach Landers and also whose players had accomplished so much. That was the main factor in the decision."
Landers knew he'd found a gem in Armstrong.
"I'm very thankful that she has the versatility and the will to go from one spot to another on a second's notice," Landers said. "Her height makes her a mismatch for guards and her athleticism matches up well with forwards. One of the things that impresses me the most is how easily Anne Marie adapts and learns the intricacies of a new position and how that position works within the framework of her offenses and defenses."
Armstrong credits simply paying attention in practice and a desire to understand the game at every level for her ability to go from position to position with apparent ease.
"I think I always want to try to see the big picture," Armstrong said. "I want to know what everyone was doing and why. I need to know what the '2,' the '3,' the '4' and now the '5' are supposed to do. I don't have to play point guard but I think I know what 'J.J." is supposed to do from watching her in practice. I've never really practiced at the '5' but Coach Landers said in preparing for Kentucky that I might need to play there. Watching Jasmine and Tamika and Ebony in practice helped me know what I needed to do at the '5.'"
