Editor's note: This is the first of a two-part series on Asumi Nakayama and the Utah Valley State women's basketball team, which wrapped up its 2006-07 season on Saturday. Part II tomorrow explores the relationship assistant coach Chris Boettcher, who has lived and coached in Japan, has developed with Nakayama and his opinion of the Japanese game.

News photoAsumi Nakayama, a guard for Utah Valley State, is one of only two Japanese women playing NCAA basketball in the United States. CHAD CLARK/UTAH VALLEY STATE ATHLETICS PHOTO

The transition from high school to college is a challenging task. The transition from Japan to America as a student-athlete is an even bigger undertaking.

But it's a test that Saitama native Asumi Nakayama has handled well.

The freshman point guard appeared in all 28 games this season for the Utah Valley State College women's basketball team. And she showed glimpses of her potential as a Division I point guard, a fact that has done nothing but excite Wolverines coach Cathy Nixon.

Listen to this glowing assessment from Nixon:

"Asumi has done remarkably well in her transition to college basketball. When you consider that for any incoming freshman there are many things to adjust to, and for her there are many more than most others would have, she has been amazing. She worked very hard to understand what is expected of her and how to combine those skills she already had with the new demands of the more physical nature of American basketball.

"Her work ethic and desire to do what is asked of her have enabled her to be a great addition to our team."

The Wolverines capped their 2006-07 season with a 60-53 win at Texas Pan-American last Saturday, a game in which Nakayama came off the bench and played 28 minutes.

She made 19 starts this season, averaging 27.2 minutes per contest. She led the team in steals (58) and scored 5.5 points per game. Her 91 assists were second on the squad.

Nakayama's adjustment to D-I hoops was hastened by her understanding of American-style ball.

"The (biggest) difference is power -- contact," she said. "Japanese people, we are not too strong, but American people are really strong, physical."

As for the future, Nakayama has already pinpointed what she wants to improve.

"I want to take care of the ball and make good passes for teammates," said Nakayama, who maintains a Web blog to stay in touch with family and friends in Japan. "I have to shoot more and make more shots."

You've got to admire her go-for-it mentality. By doing so, she's helping Japan become a more promising overseas recruiting market for future college basketball stars in the U.S.

There are a handful of Japanese-born athletes playing college hoops at Division I schools this season, including sophomore guard K.J. Matsui of Columbia (N.Y.) University, who hails from Tokyo; freshman point guard Taishi Ito of the University of Portland (Ore.), who's originally from Mie Prefecture; and sophomore guard Ayako Nakane of the University of Evansville (Ind.), who is from Hamamatsu.

Nakayama, the 19-year-old daughter of Junto and Yoshihito, grew up in Saitama and then attended Nakamura Gakuen Girls High School in Fukuoka.

Now residing in Orem, Utah, a city of 90,000 people in the state's north-central region, she is making her parents proud, on and off the court.

"Yes, she has exceeded our expectations," Nixon said. "First and foremost, that has happened academically. What she has been able to do in the classroom is remarkable. Her commitment to academics and internal motivation to study and learn are really inspiring."

The 162-cm Nakayama brings that same intense desire to succeed to the court.

"There has been a lot of excitement surrounding Asumi," Nixon said. "We have a fairly large Japanese (student) population here in our community and they have been excited to support her.

"She is a very exciting player to watch and seems to capture the crowd anytime she plays. Even as we travel people seem to get excited about her and cheer for her, even though they are fans of the other team."

Nakayama, who has two older sisters, began playing basketball as a 9-year-old.

Her impressionable young mind triggered this interest. Or as she stated bluntly: "My sister used to play basketball, so I wanted to play."

A decade later, her natural ability and basketball acumen are directly linked.

"I love Steve Nash and Yuta Tabuse and I like to watch (Allen) Iverson play," Nakayama said. "Nash is a good point guard and he has good court vision.

"He controls the game, so I want to be like Steve Nash."

Strong on-court leadership, a characteristic that has made Nash a special player, is a trait Nakayama has shown an understanding of despite her youthful age.

"She is a very good teammate who is always watching out for everyone," Nixon said. "Her experience as a captain on her teams in Japan has given her a maturity and leadership ability that is a great asset to our team."

This admirable quality was vivid all season.

"I know at times she gets homesick," Nixon said, "but our team is like a family and her teammates are there for her to help her through those hard times. She is a great example of commitment and dedication.

"She is a very unselfish player who understands the process of winning as a team."

For Nakayama, the joy of being part of a team goes beyond the wins, losses and road trips.

"My teammates are really good, really funny," Nakayama said, "and I love to hang out with them."

Her relationship with Nixon and assistant coach Chris Boettcher, who is fluent in Japanese, is positive, too.

" . . . She (Nixon) tells me what she wants me to do," Nakayama said. "She is honest with everything she's told me."

In an 89-82 overtime road win on Dec. 2 at Idaho State, Nakayama played the type of game that senior captains are expected to play.

For Nakayama it was the type of game that, in a nutshell, highlights what Wolverine and Japanese basketball fans can look forward to over the next three seasons. She had 12 points, scoring nine of them on 3-point shots, three assists and three steals.

Reflecting on that game, Nixon offered this complimentary critique:

"She was very instrumental in our comeback. She got steals, hit shots and created a great energy with her quickness and relentless competitive play."

That game, the coach added, summed up what makes Nakayama a special talent.

"She can change the complexion of a game with her ability to defend and her quickness and long-range scoring ability on the offensive end," Nixon concluded.

Nakayama, who is currently taking math, English, astronomy, health and music classes, wants to be a junior high or high school English teacher in the future.

Furthermore, she embraces being a role model for the next generation of Japanese athletes.

"When I came here and I play basketball (there's also) a lot of Japanese people who want to come to America," Nakayama said.

She added: "I really want to work hard and graduate and maybe some younger Japanese people can come and play in the U.S."

With a winning attitude, a respect for the game and an appreciation for the opportunity she has, Nakayama is doing much more than just hitting jump shots and making steals.

She's helping future Japanese stars get a shot at pursuing their dream.

And that's something to admire on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.