Gabby Giuffre needed a fresh start.

The Aptos High School graduate spent two seasons at the University of San Diego before playing basketball at the University of Nevada, Reno. Massively recruited in high school by Nevada coach Amanda Lievens, Giuffre scored stellar performances against Arizona State University (a traditionally elite Pac-12 conference program) as a freshman, including scoring 11 points. Despite showing flashes, his playing time for USD was limited.

So when the opportunity arose for a new program, Giuffre quickly left the always warm and sunny San Diego for the snowy and frigid winters of Reno.

“I was ready for a new opportunity, a new place to play,” said Joshua, who will make a sort of homecoming when Nevada will face San Jose State on Jan. 26 at SJSU’s Provident Credit Union Event Center. Flea said. “Nevada is one of the places that inspired me to finish high school. I put my name in the portal and Amanda contacted me.”

“I knew a lot about them and their attacking style.

Lievens was thrilled to have another crack at the 5-foot-8 junior guard.

“She’s the bigger guard,” said the coach. “She is physically strong and has the ability to match a post player. She is versatile and can play multiple positions. I learned

“She is very precious to us.”

As in San Diego, Giuffre didn’t see much playing time in Nevada, averaging 10 minutes per game. Still, she has appeared in 10 of the Wolfpack’s 11 games, including one start against Montana on Dec. 18.

Her Wolf Pack debut was especially meaningful. Giuffre equaled her career-high scoring total of 11 in the UNR’s November 13 loss to Pacific University. Giuffre shot 4-for-5 from the field in that contest and went 3-for-3 from a 3-point range.

“My teammates gave me a great opportunity,” she said. “I watched a lot of basketball. The support from everyone who attended that game fed me.”

Nevada ultimately lost that game, but Giuffre’s efforts kept the Wolf Pack close behind the Tigers.

“Her score kept us going in the first half,” Levens said. “If she hadn’t scored, we would have been at a huge deficit.

“That’s what she does really well, the knockdown shot,” added the coach. “She can shoot three people, pull up and shoot, and post someone. She’s good at making good use of mismatches.”

Since then, Giuffre scored four points in Nevada’s 85–35 victory over NCAA Division II school Stanislaus State University and scored four points in the Wolf Pack’s November 25 victory over Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Got 5 points. He also had two points and a season-high four rebounds on December 4 against San Diego.

Giuffre, who majored in business administration and had less emphasis on sports management, aspired to one day become the head basketball coach of the college program.

Levens thinks she’s going to be great.

“She’s very consistent as a person,” Levens said. “You know what you’re going to get out of her every day. As a coach, that’s very important. When people are looking to you for guidance, what do you get out of someone every time you interact?” Knowing what you can do is very important.

“She’s very calm and very approachable. These things should help her be a good coach.”

county connection

County Connections are held every other Thursday during the school year. For updates on local college athletes, email Ray Hacke (raydhackelaw@gmail.com).