WASHINGTON - Monroe High School graduate Jamie Armstrong didn't think she would ever lace up her shoes and play basketball again after signing a letter of intent in 2009 to play NCAA Division I volleyball at George Washington University.
That all changed Feb. 10, when she walked on and practiced for the first time with the George Washington women's basketball team. The Colonials had a rash of injuries and Armstrong, a sophomore, approached the coaching staff about an opportunity to join the team as a walk-on.
"I never imagined I would be playing basketball again," Armstrong said. "I thought the state tournament would be the last game I would play."
Armstrong missed playing basketball and has seized the opportunity. After just one day of practice, she scored two points, grabbed three rebounds and had three blocked shots in just eight minutes of play in a 63-51 loss to Richmond on Feb. 11.
It marked Armstrong's first competitive game in almost two years.
"I was obviously a little rusty," Armstrong said. "I was kind of nervous. It's a different level of basketball. It's very fast paced. It just all came back to me. It just feels good to be back out there."
Armstrong was a Division 2 Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-State player and helped the Cheesemakers to three straight state tournament appearances and a championship in 2008. She averaged 11.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game as a senior and was part of one of the winningest classes in MHS history. Armstrong joined Gwen Sutter and Ashley Hermanson in compiling a record of 88-14 in their prep careers.
"I know our volleyball team has some really great athletes and has been a good team," George Washington women's basketball coach Mike Bozeman said.
"I had never seen her play basketball. She came to the first practice and I was surprised by how well she picked up on the drills. You could tell she had played basketball before. You could tell it just wasn't a volleyball player trying to play basketball. I did some research and found out she was a 1,000-point scorer."
With a team that has been depleted by injuries and was down to six players, Bozeman welcomes any contributions Armstrong can make.
"I know she will help this team," Bozeman said. "I plan to get her some more playing time. I can see why she is coveted by the volleyball coaches."
Armstrong is allowed 20 hours of practice a week. She has 12 hours of basketball practice and eight hours of volleyball training. She has to balance being a two-sport Division I athlete with school work.
There is a lot of communication needed for college athletes. Armstrong said she always contacts professors about when she will be gone and there are other athletes from different sports in her classes she can rely on to turn in a project or assignment.
Balancing school and sports is nothing new for Armstrong. In high school, she played basketball and club volleyball.
Armstrong said there are a lot of time management lessons she follows that have paid off nicely.
"It's very exhausting because it's a different level," Armstrong said. "It's definitely a lot of planning and organizing."
George Washington (11-14, 4-7 Atlantic 10) plays at Massachusetts on Sunday.
Armstrong said winning a WIAA Division 2 state title in 2008 is an unforgettable moment.
"Nothing will be the same as playing with that team because we had such great chemistry," she said. "I'm hoping to make more great memories here."
She's not looking too far down the road when it comes to playing basketball at George Washington.
"I'm just happy to be here," Armstrong said. "I'm just trying to take it as it comes."
Bozeman is excited about Armstrong's ability on the court, but he didn't want to speculate on her basketball future beyond this year since she also plays volleyball.
"With respect to her commitment to volleyball, I really don't want to look past this year," he said.
That all changed Feb. 10, when she walked on and practiced for the first time with the George Washington women's basketball team. The Colonials had a rash of injuries and Armstrong, a sophomore, approached the coaching staff about an opportunity to join the team as a walk-on.
"I never imagined I would be playing basketball again," Armstrong said. "I thought the state tournament would be the last game I would play."
Armstrong missed playing basketball and has seized the opportunity. After just one day of practice, she scored two points, grabbed three rebounds and had three blocked shots in just eight minutes of play in a 63-51 loss to Richmond on Feb. 11.
It marked Armstrong's first competitive game in almost two years.
"I was obviously a little rusty," Armstrong said. "I was kind of nervous. It's a different level of basketball. It's very fast paced. It just all came back to me. It just feels good to be back out there."
Armstrong was a Division 2 Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-State player and helped the Cheesemakers to three straight state tournament appearances and a championship in 2008. She averaged 11.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game as a senior and was part of one of the winningest classes in MHS history. Armstrong joined Gwen Sutter and Ashley Hermanson in compiling a record of 88-14 in their prep careers.
"I know our volleyball team has some really great athletes and has been a good team," George Washington women's basketball coach Mike Bozeman said.
"I had never seen her play basketball. She came to the first practice and I was surprised by how well she picked up on the drills. You could tell she had played basketball before. You could tell it just wasn't a volleyball player trying to play basketball. I did some research and found out she was a 1,000-point scorer."
With a team that has been depleted by injuries and was down to six players, Bozeman welcomes any contributions Armstrong can make.
"I know she will help this team," Bozeman said. "I plan to get her some more playing time. I can see why she is coveted by the volleyball coaches."
Armstrong is allowed 20 hours of practice a week. She has 12 hours of basketball practice and eight hours of volleyball training. She has to balance being a two-sport Division I athlete with school work.
There is a lot of communication needed for college athletes. Armstrong said she always contacts professors about when she will be gone and there are other athletes from different sports in her classes she can rely on to turn in a project or assignment.
Balancing school and sports is nothing new for Armstrong. In high school, she played basketball and club volleyball.
Armstrong said there are a lot of time management lessons she follows that have paid off nicely.
"It's very exhausting because it's a different level," Armstrong said. "It's definitely a lot of planning and organizing."
George Washington (11-14, 4-7 Atlantic 10) plays at Massachusetts on Sunday.
Armstrong said winning a WIAA Division 2 state title in 2008 is an unforgettable moment.
"Nothing will be the same as playing with that team because we had such great chemistry," she said. "I'm hoping to make more great memories here."
She's not looking too far down the road when it comes to playing basketball at George Washington.
"I'm just happy to be here," Armstrong said. "I'm just trying to take it as it comes."
Bozeman is excited about Armstrong's ability on the court, but he didn't want to speculate on her basketball future beyond this year since she also plays volleyball.
"With respect to her commitment to volleyball, I really don't want to look past this year," he said.
