Former LSU guard Allison Hightower officially kicked off her life as a WNBA player Monday.The LSU All-American Honorable Mention player participated in her first practice of training camp with the Connecticut Sun, which selected her in the second round of the WNBA draft April 8. Hightower said she felt calm heading into the practice.”I don’t have any nerves right now, which is surprising,” she said. “I’m just ready to get started. I’m prepared to go out there and work as hard as I can to get a spot.”Hightower said getting to know her older teammates has been smooth so far.”The veterans have actually been pretty nice helping us along the way and showing us some things,” Hightower said. “I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about how the veterans make rookies carry their bags and get their food. We haven’t had to do that yet.” Allison Hightower said adjusting to life in the North has been exhilarating.”Connecticut is different, a lot of trees and mountains,” she said. “I’m definitely going to miss the crawfish and all that, but I’m so excited about this opportunity to play and travel — the whole package.”Hightower said LSU prepared her to take the WNBA by storm, and she knows there is always room to polish her basketball skills at the professional level.”It’s all about putting in time and extra work to make every part of your game sharp,” Hightower said. “I’m working on the overall thing — shooting, dribbling and passing. You always have something to work on.”Hightower’s mother, Regina, said she realized what an impact her daughter made on the Lady Tigers program when she earned four awards at the team’s annual postseason banquet.”Everything really hit me as to how successful she was when my husband brought back all the awards she won at the banquet last week,” Regina Hightower said. “I was just like, ‘Oh my God.’ She doesn’t toot her horn at all … it’s just amazing.”One of the awards she received was the inaugural Allison Hightower Outstanding Practice Player award, which the coaching staff will give in future years to the player who demonstrates the best work ethic in practice.Regina Hightower said she anticipates her daughter to carry that same effort and determination when she dons her No. 23 jersey for the Sun. Connecticut’s first exhibition game is May 4 at home against the Atlanta Dream.”I expect the same tenacity she had at LSU,” Regina Hightower said. “Of course, she’ll be stepping up her game some more. It will be another learning experience for her.”Regina Hightower described her daughter as “a team player” and “a focused kid” both on and off the basketball court. Allison Hightower will graduate in May with a degree in general studies. “The thing I’m most proud of is what Allison was able to achieve academically with her grueling schedule,” she said.Regina Hightower said she is living vicariously through her daughter as she embarks on her professional career.”I’m really excited because she is achieving the dream she’s had since she was a little girl to play in the WNBA,” Regina Hightower said.—–Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]