Alumni Spotlight: Uta Nakamura

Uta on and off the court for New Heights.

Uta Nakamura joined New Heights in 2020 after scrolling past an Instagram post for New Heights tryouts. She decided to take a chance, leaving her old team and friends, believing she could play at the next level. Initially feeling uncomfortable, Uta made the team and was embraced as part of the New Heights family. She created lasting friendships and has capitalized on the many opportunities – athletic, academic, and professional – that New Heights offers. Uta graduated with New Heights in 2023 and now attends Smith College, where she continues to excel on and off the court.

While playing with New Heights, Uta met various alumni, a facet of the College Bound program she appreciated. And when she first began the college admissions process, one of her coaches would make calls to potential schools on her behalf, providing her with helpful advice and guidance along the way. Additionally, her coaches were very supportive, ensuring her academics were at the forefront of her recruitment. On top of that, Uta is still connected with several of the people she met and befriended at New Heights today—she continues to see and participate in workouts with one of her other previous New Heights coaches, and she has stayed in contact with past teammates and friends.

Uta (far left) pictured with ELC members Amanda Fields & Sydney Skinner, alumni Kaila Berry & Madison McCarthy, New Heights College & Career Assist Coordinator Anna Brilliant, and our 7th grade girls team after their round table discussion about adjusting to new environments and stress management.

Now an alumnus, Uta has come back to meet with our New Heights middle and high school girls' teams (pictured above). She inspired our young student-athletes by sharing her experiences with New Heights and at college, giving those following in her footsteps insight and tips on how to make adjusting to a new school or team easier and managing stress. Additionally, she was introduced to several New Heights Emerging Leader Council members, developing relationships that have expanded her professional opportunities.

Uta (back row, third from right) pictured with her colleagues at Cartier.

More recently, as a member of the College Bound program's Career Assist alumni network, Uta earned an internship with Cartier. Through working with the luxury brand’s internal communications team and completing her internship, she recognizes how playing basketball at New Heights has helped her succeed professionally, as she had already developed strong communication skills, a good work ethic and the ability to quickly adapt to new situations. She enjoys being able to work with different teams within Cartier and see her work come to fruition. Ultimately, Uta says her internship was a positive experience, which she attributes to the authenticity of the people she worked with, great leadership and a vast exposure to different career paths.

Uta inside her Cartier office in Midtown.

Reflecting on how she could have kept scrolling past the New Heights tryout post, her advice for young student-athletes is to continue to put yourself in uncomfortable situations and walk into the room even if you don't think you belong, because you never know where those situations will lead you. By putting herself in an uncomfortable situation, she has had the opportunity to play college basketball, grow professionally, be a role model for younger student-athletes and succeed in new opportunities.

Uta pictured at our round table discussion for our middle & high school girls about adapting to new environments and managing stress.

Uta is looking forward to returning to Smith College for her sophomore year, where she will continue her studies in Japanese, expand upon her career interests in Human Resources, Economics and Education, and, of course, help hoist Smith’s basketball team to further success.