Gemma Núñez is pointing the way for Campbell’s success

With a flick of the wrist, no-look passes are coming. Behind-the-back dishes are rolling in. Traditional bounce passes threading through a tangle of sweaty arms are on their way. With Núñez’s skill, the ball finds its target from every angle, every direction — always on time.

“She always seems to find us in the right places and make some great passes,” Campbell senior forward Courtney Dahlquist said to The Next during a recent Zoom call. “She’s a great facilitator, but you can rely on her to score too. Sometimes, on ball screens, I’ll pop out for the ball, and she goes and gets a layup. I’m like, well, that was pretty simple. The offense is just as easy as that, but you always have to be ready for … her slinging it over her head, too.”

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Núñez, a sleek 5’7 junior point guard, plays basketball like a jazz musician improvising a solo — smooth, unpredictable and effortless. She’s the heartbeat of the Camels. Combining textbook fundamentals with mesmerizing flair, Núñez has transformed standard passes into must-see attractions.

A crackle of electricity spreads through the stands as fans inch forward on their seats, eyes locked on Núñez. Meanwhile, on the bench, teammates grip one another whenever she has the ball because they know it’s the prelude to something special — another dazzling moment of Núñez magic about to leave the arena buzzing.

“It’s amazing playing with her,” Campbell’s leading scorer, Gianni Boone, told The Next over Zoom. “Gemma is probably one of the best point guards I’ve ever played with. She knows where everyone is on the court. She knows how to get you in good positions to score. I think she does a great job on both sides of the floor, and she’s a great leader for our team.”

Seventh in the nation in assists per game (6.1) and 12th overall in total helpers (159), Núñez isn’t the straw that breaks the Camel’s back — she’s the rock of excellence that keeps it strong, steady, and humming.

A dime-dropper supreme, Núñez has handed out five or more assists in a single game 18 times this season. Heading into this weekend’s road trip at Towson and Drexel, Núñez has delivered five or more assists in nine straight games. In this past Sunday’s 76-51 win over Stony Brook, Núñez attempted four shots and was the most impactful player on the floor, finishing with nine assists.

Campbell has won six of its last seven games, putting itself in position to earn one of the coveted double-byes into the quarterfinal round of the upcoming Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) tournament in Washington, D.C., which begins on Wednesday, March 12 at Entertainment & Sports Arena. With four games remaining, Campbell (16-10 overall, 9-5) is fourth in the CAA standings, behind third-place College of Charleston (19-6, 10-4). Campbell hosts the College of Charleston on Thursday, March 6.

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Long before Núñez blossomed into one of the CAA’s most entertaining performers, she struggled to earn playing time. Following her freshman year, when she averaged just 12.6 minutes per game, she finished with more turnovers than assists. In addition to having trouble on the court, adjusting to life in Buies Creek, N.C., from Almeria, Spain, proved challenging because of the language barrier.

But Núñez wasn’t deterred.

She spent the summer between her freshman and sophomore years getting in shape by training with her father, a marathon runner. Those workouts served a dual and inspirational purpose by allowing Núñez to bond with her father and get in shape for the upcoming hoops season. She worked on her footwork, shooting and deciphering defenses. Núñez also benefited from competing as a member of Spain’s 3×3 under-21 basketball team, helping the team to a 3-0 record with wins over Israel, Switzerland, and in the bracket final over Germany.

“We were always close, but I feel like that brought us even closer together,” Núñez said of training with her dad. “So, it was cool, and he helped me. I am happy about that, and I know he loved it too … My goal at the first of the year was to do whatever the team needed me to do to win. Since the beginning of last year, I’ve been working hard to get to this point. It’s great seeing all the hard work is paying off now.”

Núñez’s journey to Campbell was created by opportunity. The Camel’s head coach Ronnie Fisher figured he was set at the point guard position with former standout Luana Serranto, who was expected to return and play her COVID season. That was until she got an offer to play professionally in Portugal. Even though he had a few who could play the position on his roster, Fisher was still left scrambling for a point guard.

He had a contact in Spain, which led them to Núñez. Fisher admitted he was excited when he landed Núñez. He didn’t realize how much of a project she would be. During her freshman season, Núñez wasn’t ready to take the reins, forcing Fisher to shift a shooting guard into the role just to keep the offense afloat.

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“I was concerned that she would ever play in our program,” Fisher said. “I’ve coached for 34 years when she went home between her freshman and sophomore year, and she stepped on campus, I’ve never had a player make a transformation like that. I challenged her when she left … The first workout, she was the best player on the floor her sophomore year. I give all the credit to her and her work ethic … I’m so proud of her, and now she’s been my toughest player for the last two years. She’s one of the toughest players in the country. We played Miami, Wake Forest, and Virginia Tech; nobody was tougher on that floor than her. She sparks our team.”

Looking back now, it’s almost humorous how Núñez initially struggled — moving a step too slow, overwhelmed by the speed of the game. But those early challenges were the seeds of her growth. They proved how one can conquer adversity. Now, she commands the court with poise, turning every game into a masterclass in point guard play.

Fisher thought another person had arrived back on campus to start her sophomore year. Last season, Núñez averaged 3.4 assists per game and 1.3 steals while also averaging 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Camels. She scored double figures three times.

With a crossover dribble as quick as a blink, Núñez blows past stunned defenders. Enjoying this high level of success is not something she imagined when she began playing basketball at five years old. However, when Núñez was 16, she realized her skills could potentially earn her a scholarship opportunity in America.

Núñez may turn the court into a playground with her flashy style, but she has an iron will of determination, resulting from a relentless work ethic and determined focus on continually improving. She brings energy. When the game is on the line, you hear her voice over the crowd’s roar, her hands clapping the hardest and radiating positive vibes, lifting the team higher.

She’s also been at her best in the Camels’ biggest games.

During a road win over first-place North Carolina A&T on Feb. 9, Nunez notched her second career double-double (career-high 16 points, 10 rebounds) in an effort complemented by five assists and three steals. During the memorable fourth quarter, Nunez shined, assisting or scoring on all but one of the Camels’ five baskets in the fourth quarter. She also scored the go-ahead layup with 44 seconds remaining that secured the 56-52 victory.

According to Her Hoops Stats, Núñez’s assist rate of 36.7% is 17th nationally. She has a career-best 43.8% effective field goal percentage and a usage rate of 17.3%, meaning that more Campbell possessions end with the ball in her hands. Núñez is also averaging 0.71 points per possession. As a showcase of her growth, Núñez’s turnover rate was 56.2% as a freshman and is 24.5% toward the end of her junior year.

Fortunately, Núñez has plenty of offensive options, which has enabled her to load up on assists. She is one of six players on a team that has won five CAA games by 20 or more points and is 11-1 at home averaging at least eight points per game.

Guard Gianni Boone leads Campbell with an average of 11.2 points per game, and forward Courtney Dahlquist adds 9.6 points. With Núñez setting up both players, it’s unsurprising that Dahlquist is third in the CAA in 3-point field goal percentage (36.8%) and fifth in 3-pointers made per game (1.9). Boone is fourth in the conference in field goal percentage (45.6%). It’s one reason why the Camels are second in the CAA in scoring offense, averaging 65.6 points per game.

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The Camels’ freshman triumvirate of Jasmine Felton, Olivia Tucker and Ciara Alexander combined to claim five CAA Rookie of the Week and one CAA Player of the Week award. Averaging 9.2 points per game this season, Alexander was named CAA Rookie of the Week for the second time this past Monday.

Felton, who scores at an 8.6 point per game clip, has won the Rookie of the Week three times. Tucker averages 8.2 points per game and was named CAA Player of the Week on Nov. 25. During the month of February, Campbell has won three of the four CAA Rookie of the Week awards. The Camels have two seniors in Dahlquist and Audrey Fuller, so in theory, the best is yet to come for a program finishing its second year of transitioning from the Big South to the CAA.

 “I feel like we’re a family here,” Núñez said. “You know, being so far from home, that’s a really important thing to me. I think it’s nice to have these teammates. They help me, like every day, with everything. Having them by my side, I know I am going to be alright, and also the coaching staff … We have a long way to go, but if we keep doing what we’ve been doing and working hard, I believe we will succeed.”