"With her, the sky's the limit," Wisconsin head coach Jane Albright said.

For Smith, who goes by the nickname "Big Nina," the sky is not that far away. At 6-foot-4, Smith is one of the tallest players on the Badger team, as well as in the Big Ten. With her size and talent, Smith is a highly coveted recruit for Wisconsin.

Smith's credentials coming into her freshman season made her one of the most heavily recruited players in the nation. Coming from West High School in Waterloo, Iowa, Smith received 1999 High School Player of the Year awards from USA Today and Parade magazine, and was a runner-up for the Naismith Prep Player of the Year honors. Smith also received first team All-American honors from Parade, and was named Miss Basketball for the state of Iowa.

When all was said and done, Smith chose to play for the Badgers. Although the idea of playing for Albright was attractive, it was the academics and diversity of Madison that ultimately brought Smith to Wisconsin. Coming from Iowa, Smith said she was also eager to come to a different area.

"Madison has a very large variety of people. There's so many cultures that I'm aware of now that I wasn't before," Smith said.

Aside from the diversity, Smith also chose Wisconsin because it had more to offer than just basketball.

"[Wisconsin] seemed like a place where I would be happy. If something would happen besides basketball, I would just want to go to school here to be around the people that I'm around everyday," Smith said.

Now that Smith has made the transition from life in Iowa to life in Madison, she has to additionally make the transition from high school to college on the court. Although she was an excellent prep basketball player, the game is different at the college level, Smith said.

"It's a lot more physical, a lot quicker," she said.

Adding to the physical stress of play is the length of the season. Where as high school seasons are relatively short, the college schedule is significantly longer with the additions of pre-season training and post-season play.

"Already I've been working out longer than my season in high school usually goes," Smith said.

Another aspect of the college game that is draining on Smith is the mental part of the game. Aside from attending a full schedule of classes, Smith must also practice with her team, and then go home to study. Fortunately for Smith, Albright has helped her with the mental part of the game.

"[Albright] always tells me everyday to do what you feel like you can do. There's no pressure on me to be a star," Smith said.

If Smith keeps progressing as well as she has been thus far, she may be a star before she knows it. In her first two exhibition games for the Badgers, Smith averaged 11.5 points and four rebounds a game.

Although Smith feels like she is still adjusting to college-level play, Albright is pleased with her performances so far.

"Nina's done everything we've wanted her to do. She's been very efficient when we've gotten her the ball, and her defense is really coming along," Albright said.

Her play during practice and in the first two games earned her a spot in the starting rotation. For the next four games, Albright will rotate between six starters, including Smith, before she decides on a starting lineup.

Based on her size and talent, it seems likely that Smith will earn a permanent spot in the starting line-up, and will be on her way to accomplishing one of her goals - being named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Smith is considered one of the pre-season favorites to claim the coveted title, and would be the third Badger in three years to win the award, behind LaTonya Sims and Jessie Stomski.

Although Smith would like the personal recognition of being named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, she is more concerned with team results than individual ones.

"I want us to make it into the [NCAA Tournament], and be Big Ten champs," Smith said.