Team Firstep '23 - part 1 | Prep Girls Hoops

Team Firstep ’23 is full of players that play for High Schools 30 to 45 minutes South of me and I had seen each of them play during the season before I discovered there was a Team Firstep. I might have covered them sooner had I known. I first discovered them at a Prep Girls Hoops Event in Chicago when I saw one of the players across the court in uniform and recognized her. But it was too late at that event because my schedule was already full covering the 14U teams that weekend. This article and the following one tomorrow will cover the ladies of this team in regards to their Semifinalist performances at the Victory Region Finals last weekend and what I have seen at previous events. [player_tooltip player_id="255506" first="Natalie" last="Gentry"] - 5’8" G/F - Larue County ’23 The precision, efficiency and technical proficiency Gentry plays with is a testament to how hard she works. That, her footwork and her ability to run the floor make her a force to be reckoned with in every game. She forces the defense to react to the most direct path to scoring and she improvises off of that reaction. Most impressive is her quick, choppy steps with the ball in transition that propel her forwards and allow her to alter course on the fly. She threw a pinpoint accurate baseball pass from under the basket to the opposite three-point line to a streaking teammate who caught it in stride this past weekend through the entire defense. She scores running the floor, turning defense into offense, shooting the three in transition, and within a halfcourt offense. She has the high motor of s scoring machine, the defensive skills to stop pentration, and the alertness to help capitalize on any defensive mistake. Deziree Bryant - 5’6" G - North Hardin ’23 Forget about her skills for a minute to see how important Bryant is as a Leader for her teammate on and off the court. She takes charge in any situation, for example, making sure all of her teammates’ information that I have been using in articles was correct and neatly written. Or look at how she took over, along with a few others, late in the 2:30 pm Saturday game with the score tied. She secured the ball to force make 4 of 4 free throws and the crucial steal needed to seal the victory. She wants the ball in her hands at winning time, she runs the offense looking to get her teammates involved and get them easy shots. She has the ball control, quick step, and moves to exploit the defense and get into the lane for points and assists. But more important is her will to win. This is the kind of player you need to pull out the close games. [player_tooltip player_id="372465" first="Janiesse" last="Armstrong"] - 5’4" G - Elizabethtown ’23 Armstrong is shifty with the ball, keeps it low on the dribble, and is great at slow-walking the offense when needed for a play to develop or pushing the tempo on the break. She can knock down the three from all over the court, or find her way into the trees to chop them down with the dish and kick out pass. Defensively, she is good at sitting down on the ballhandler to deny penetration and denying the passing lanes after she forces the pass. She doesn’t have much height but she can put a body on anyone trying to post up on her and make them work very hard to get the ball.

Team Firstep ’23 is full of players that play for High Schools 30 to 45 minutes South of me and I had seen each of them play during the season before I discovered there was a Team Firstep. I might have covered them sooner had I known.

I first discovered them at a Prep Girls Hoops Event in Chicago when I saw one of the players across the court in uniform and recognized her. But it was too late at that event because my schedule was already full covering the 14U teams that weekend.

This article and the following one tomorrow will cover the ladies of this team in regards to their Semifinalist performances at the Victory Region Finals last weekend and what I have seen at previous events.

Natalie Gentry Natalie Gentry 5'9" | CG LaRue County | 2023 State KY - 5’8" G/F - Larue County ’23

The precision, efficiency and technical proficiency Gentry plays with is a testament to how hard she works. That, her footwork and her ability to run the floor make her a force to be reckoned with in every game. She forces the defense to react to the most direct path to scoring and she improvises off of that reaction. Most impressive is her quick, choppy steps with the ball in transition that propel her forwards and allow her to alter course on the fly.

She threw a pinpoint accurate baseball pass from under the basket to the opposite three-point line to a streaking teammate who caught it in stride this past weekend through the entire defense. She scores running the floor, turning defense into offense, shooting the three in transition, and within a halfcourt offense. She has the high motor of s scoring machine, the defensive skills to stop pentration, and the alertness to help capitalize on any defensive mistake.

Deziree Bryant - 5’6" G - North Hardin ’23

Forget about her skills for a minute to see how important Bryant is as a Leader for her teammate on and off the court. She takes charge in any situation, for example, making sure all of her teammates’ information that I have been using in articles was correct and neatly written. Or look at how she took over, along with a few others, late in the 2:30 pm Saturday game with the score tied. She secured the ball to force make 4 of 4 free throws and the crucial steal needed to seal the victory.

She wants the ball in her hands at winning time, she runs the offense looking to get her teammates involved and get them easy shots. She has the ball control, quick step, and moves to exploit the defense and get into the lane for points and assists. But more important is her will to win. This is the kind of player you need to pull out the close games.

Janiesse Armstrong Janiesse Armstrong 5'3" | PG Elizabethtown | 2023 State KY - 5’4" G - Elizabethtown ’23

Armstrong is shifty with the ball, keeps it low on the dribble, and is great at slow-walking the offense when needed for a play to develop or pushing the tempo on the break. She can knock down the three from all over the court, or find her way into the trees to chop them down with the dish and kick out pass.

Defensively, she is good at sitting down on the ballhandler to deny penetration and denying the passing lanes after she forces the pass. She doesn’t have much height but she can put a body on anyone trying to post up on her and make them work very hard to get the ball.