Almost in a class by herself

By TONY BURNS
She blocked a shot and wrestled away the rebound on one end of the floor and feathered a perfectly-timed alley-oop pass on the other. She also scored on a post-up, knocked down a pull-up jumper on a 1-on-1 clear-out, helped handle the ball and defended both on the perimeter and in the post.
No, she’s not Delaware’s Elena Delle Donne or Stanford’s Nnemkadi Ogwumike or even Baylor’s Brittney Griner.
Georgia’s Anne Marie Armstrong may well be the most versatile player in women’s college basketball. When it comes to all-around performers, like legendary NFL coach Bum Phillips once said about Earl Campbell, if she ain’t in a class by herself, it don’t take long to call roll.
Armstrong currently ranks among the top-10 statistical leaders for SEC games in 9-of-13 categories, including top five in scoring and minutes played, sixth in assists, blocked shots and defensive boards, seventh in rebounding, steals and assists-to-turnovers and ninth in field goal percentage.
"Anne Marie just gets better and better," said Georgia coach Andy Landers. "She has such a good sense for the game and she's unselfish. That's what makes her so much fun to watch. She'll help her teammates on defense and run the risk of her man scoring. She'll pass when other people are open and she is too. She's a fun player to coach and watch."
Thursday night, the 6-foot-3 junior scored 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting from the floor with seven rebounds and five blocked shots. With the game tied at 4.8 seconds left on the clock, she giggled before toeing the line and hitting the game-winning free throws in a 61-59 win at South Carolina.
“I was trying to get un-nervous,” Armstrong said. “I was a little bit nervous but I was trying not to think about it. I thought if I could make myself smile or laugh I wouldn’t be thinking about it as much. I’m glad I looked cool as a cucumber because I wasn’t.”
Armstrong’s deceptive looks serve her well on the court. Long and lanky, she almost looks out of place on the perimeter, where she shoots 37.9 percent from 3-point range. Her slender frame appears almost brittle in the paint, where she nudged her way to almost seven rebounds per game and is one of the league leaders in shot blocks.
“In high school I played mostly post but in the beginning I played point guard,” she said. “Coming here and being able to shoot the ball, that’s why I’ve been able to play in the games, being versatile, playing the two, three, four and the five. I would say my main position is at the small forward.”
A native of Norcross, Ga., Armstrong is a three-time state champion in basketball and volleyball and is a three-time state high jump champion.
“I’ve always been pretty tall,” she said. “My freshman year in high school I was like 5-11 so as far as high school, I was always pretty tall and I grew consistently through high school until I was 6-2, 6-3. Just developing as a player, I started off as a guard and then as I grew taller and became one of the taller players on my team, I had to play in the post some. Being on a team in high school where we were successful and playing different positions has definitely helped me be more versatile in the college game.”
Just like laughing when she’s nervous, Armstrong is difficult to judge. Is it possible to be gangly, yet smooth? A ballerina on stilts? She blocks shots in transition, can take the ball from the wing to the basket in one long stride and is a dead-eye shooter from long range - an American athlete with a European style.
“Nemanja Djurisic on the (Georgia) men’s team is from Europe and our game is kind of similar as far as being able to post up, shoot it, handle the ball and being able to pass the ball as far as seeing the court well. I guess I’ve heard that but not many people have told me that I have a European style,” she said.
“I think I’m pretty athletic. If I’m at the guard, my quickness is something I have to focus on when I’m guarding other guards especially in the SEC. At the four position, I can match up with almost anyone. I may be a little undersized against some players but I know how to use my length on defense. So, I think I’m skilled and athletic as well - maybe more skilled.”
Armstrong’s game isn’t ordinary. Perhaps her coach summed it up after a game this season against Furman.
“A couple of times tonight, Anne Marie reminded me of Larry Bird,” Landers said. “She has crazy size, point guard and forward skills and passes it well because of the way she sees the floor.”
Yeah, you could say some of those same things about players like Delle Donne and Ogwumike. So, Armstrong isn’t in a class all by herself. But, it don’t take long to call the roll.