Garfield High basketball star Katie Fiso reflects on friendship with Kobe Bryant

Katie Fiso is a junior at Garfield High and a top 40 player in the country for the class of 2024.

Though the Seattle sauce is evident, on this day, the southern California swagger is even stronger.

"Just that drive to win, it comes from them for sure," Fiso said.

It's a moxie that comes from The Mamba and Mambacita.

"October 2019 we went down to the Mamba Cup in California and I remember the first game, we played Kobe's team," Fiso said. "A lot of emotions coming into the game, playing against Kobe Bryant. The GOAT, the Mamba, everything. I remember all my shots were falling, all my floaters were falling. I was like, Dang I'm really cooking in front of Kobe Bryant."

"It was like a love-hate relationship. We loved each other, but when we got out there, we wanted to win," Mo Hines, Katie's AAU coach, said.

On the morning of January 26, 2020, Kobe and Gigi were on their way to the court, looking for another win after a big one the day before against Katie.

"We were in a game and I just remember whistles were blowing, everybody was crying, screaming. I had the ball and I was like, 'What's happening?' And I just remember someone just screaming, 'Kobe Bryant just died,'" Fiso said.

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