NORMAL - Kristin Judson seemed to settle into a comfort zone for University High School last basketball season. After transferring from DeKalb, the 6-foot-2 forward averaged 11.4 points on 54 percent field goal shooting to go with 6.8 rebounds.

The Pioneers rode that Pantagraph All-Area first-team performance to a 21-8 record good for Intercity, Corn Belt Conference and regional titles.

Expect to see Judson operating in an even bigger comfort zone this season.

"I think last year she was trying to fit in," said Coach Laura Sellers. "This year, she is trying to be a leader by example."

Judson attended team conditioning sessions and open gyms since school opened in August.

"We just tried to play as much as we could," she said.

Judson got fit enough to even enjoy the grueling first day of official practice.

"It was a lot of running, but it was exciting to be back together again," she said.

Judson's off-season included helping the Illinois Hustle, a Chicago-based AAU team, place fourth in the Nike National Tournament.

"I've been working on my skills all summer and all fall so I just feel like I've improved in everything," she said. "I've been working on my 3s so we'll see as the season goes. I'm more comfortable shooting 3s. That's something I'll need to do at the college level."

Judson is relieved to have her college choice out of the way. She signed a national letter of intent this week with Miami of Ohio.

The recruiting process began the summer before Judson's freshman season at DeKalb and didn't end until last summer.

Guiding her through the process was her father, Rob, an Illinois State assistant basketball coach.

"He helped me make the right decision," Kristin Judson said. "He loves Miami and my whole family does and so that just made it easier for me to decide to go there."

Judson hasn't let her father's basketball expertise go to waste, either.

"I'll go shoot with him," she said. "He'll help me with everything."

That includes postgame analysis.

"He always has something to say: positive, negative. It's always a good source of learning," Judson said. "I take it in. It helps me get better."

Judson doesn't know what she'll study in college, but she hasn't ruled out becoming a coach. Sellers already considers her a coach on the floor.

"She is pretty good at strategizing and understanding the game," Sellers said.

After only a few days of practice, Judson liked what she saw from the Pioneers, whose other returning starters are 5-5 junior guard Alyssa Palmer and 5-2 senior guard Tenisha Brown.

"We should be pretty good," Judson said. "We can run. We can go inside. We lost seniors last year, but we should be fine. We lack size, but I think we can push the ball and score."

Making all that easier will be a star whose comfort zone has grown.

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Kristin Judson profile

School: University High

Year: Senior

Position: Forward

2007-08 stats: 11.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg

College choice: Miami of Ohio

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