A sophomore star on a team of seniors, this Arkansas phenom is a competitive leader who thrives under pressure.

Article by Shelly Wilson for Gball Magazine

For most players, their first year on the varsity team, while rewarding, can be stressful--more competition, friends watching in the stands, getting to know the other players, learning the system. But imagine if you were also the only sophomore on a team of seniors. What's more, what if everybody on the team was relying on you to lead the team to success?

That's precisely the situation 15-year-old sophomore Kristian Tester of El Dorado (Ark.) High School has been faced with for months. Even before this 5'5" point guard was eligible to play varsity (at the Arkansas 5A level, freshman can't play varsity), fans, players, and the coach were eagerly anticipating her arrival on the Lady Cat team. Although young, everybody recognized her skill and potential and hoped she would be the key to the Lady Cats' first winning season in years. Her first season on the varsity squad has proven them all right.

With her confidence, good shooting range, and an ability to use her body on the drive, Tester has helped lead the Cats to a 17-8 record so far this season. As the team's second leading scorer, she also averages 61.9 percent at the free throw line, 11.6 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game, and 5.8 assists per game.

But it's not just her stats that make her a standout athlete. It's also her ability to perform under pressure and live up to the buzz that has surrounded her all year. For instance, not only is Tester the team's starting point guard, but her arrival on the team meant one of the seniors had to lose their starting spot. In addition, Tester took over her position from her big sister Cassie, a senior who has since been moved to shooting guard.

Even for the most self-assured athlete, being the one to sweep in and provoke massive changes in the roster is bound to create some guilt, pressure, and distraction. But according to her Head Coach, Brad Slatton, Kristian has accepted her role with a lot of grace.

"She's handled the pressure of being the team's leader pretty well," says Slatton. "She's played a lot of basketball for her age, and she's pretty mature. It's a responsibility she was ready to accept and something I think the team knew was going to happen when she became eligible‹because they could recognize what we needed on the team and what she had to offer. As for taking over the point guard slot from her sister, I think Cassie was glad to give it up. It wasn't her natural position."

One explanation for Tester's performance to-date is probably her impressive basketball resume. Tester first began playing basketball when she was 5 years old and stuck with it because she enjoys the fast pace of the game.

"You have to make quick decisions," she says, "And I like being the point guard because there is a lot of responsibility in that position."

As a 12 year old, Tester led the South Arkansas Roses to an AAU silver medal and to a bronze medal as a 13 year old. She's also appeared in BCI and AAU national tournaments with the Arkansas Mavericks. And last summer, she was the second youngest player at the University of Arkansas' Elite Camp.

But according to her coach, Tester's success is as much due to her hard work as it is to innate talent. "She works hard to be an outstanding athlete," he says. "She's not the quickest person in the world, and she's not going to jump out of the gym, but she works hard to refine the skills she does have. And she's not somebody you have to beg to go to the gym. She'll play pick-up games against guys, for instance, to maintain her aggressiveness, and things like that."

Considering the Lady Cats went 9-15 in 1999 and 12-14 in 2000, many feel that Tester has single handedly turned around a losing team with her instinct and ability. Of course all team-players know that's impossible. In fact, the Lady Cats have a strong offensive team of shooters, but what they've lacked the last few years is a player with the insight to get the ball into the right hands. And that is where Tester has been invaluable this year.

"One of Kristian's main strengths is her court savvy," says Slatton. "She's a natural point guard who sees the court real well and gets everybody involved. One of her biggest contributions this season has been her competitiveness."

Not only has her performance this year appealed to team fans, but her skill and abilities have garnered her much recognition among the press as well. In fact, a local sports writer has been so impressed that he's dubbed her The White Rose. On her Web page, Kristian explains the moniker this way: "The nickname is based on a short story titled 'The White Rose' and is basically about a knight who took a vow to serve the people. The knight, after many years of service, came upon a woman who was ill. The only way to save the woman was to find the elusive White Rose. The knight eventually found the rose and the woman was saved.

"Basically, the knight is my coach, Brad Slatton," she continues. "The woman is the El Dorado girls' basketball program (which was is pretty bad shape when Slatton took over the program), and I am the White Rose. To be honest, I don't know if I can live up to the story, but I do like the nickname. It's catchy."

While only 15, many are also speculating that Tester has what it takes to be a big-time point guard in the Division I college ranks. But according to Coach Slatton, Tester isn't letting all the accolades go to her head.

"She has gotten a lot of publicity, and I think that has overwhelmed her a little bit," he says. "And I also think it's made it tougher on her because our opponents read the hype about her too, and kind of target her in games. So it's been an even bigger challenge for her to answer the publicity with action. And that might have been the hardest adjustment she's had to make this year.

"Some people have even compared her to WNBA players," he continues, "but then people are always going to make comparisons. And that's not always fair. I mean, this is just a 15 year old kid who likes to play basketball. But she still has a lot of things to work on to get to that point, and I think she realizes that. She finds it flattering that people would compare her to such successful and talented players, but she's put all the attention in the proper perspective."

Until the big leagues come knocking, those at El Dorado can continue to enjoy watching what this young and promising White Rose blossoms into. "Kristian's presence has definitely added something to our team," says Slatton. "She's well respected by her peers, and her teammates look to her as a leader. They rely on her at crucial times in games to make plays, and she's hit some big shots, made some good passes, and created some big plays right when we needed them. But she's just a kid, and her best days are ahead of her."

Article written by Gball Assistant Editor Shelly Wilson.