Campbell has impact on, off court

Many students know junior Genevieve Campbell as the starting guard for the Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team, but her passions play out off the court as well.

Campbell grew up in Rockwall, Texas, with her parents and siblings. She has three older sisters and one older brother.

"I'm real close to my parents," Campbell said. "I talk to them every day and I talk to my sisters every week. My family is the main reason I came to Commerce. I wanted to stay close to them."

Campbell was always into basketball, even at a young age.

"My parents really supported me, and my two older sisters, Maggie and Tierney, taught me how to play," Campbell said.

Before coming to A&M-Commerce, Campbell was on Rockwall High School's women's basketball team. The team lost only four games in Campbell's junior year, and went undefeated during her senior year.

"I was the co-captain of the team along with Haley Day, who is at SMU right now," Campbell said. "It was awesome playing with those teams. Everyone had a common goal and put their individual stats aside to focus on one goal."

Campbell came to A&M-Commerce after graduating high school. Former women's basketball coach Denny Downing was the one who recruited her.

"She's a great kid and very loyal to TAMU-Commerce," Downing said. "She is a great leader on the court and a better person off of it."

Adelina Gentry, who is in her first season as the assistant women's basketball coach at A&M-Commerce, described Campbell as the best shooter and most positive person on the team.

"She is one of our smartest players we have that has a good general understanding of the game," Gentry said. "She really looks for the ‘upside' in every situation. She is also very kind and humble, very unselfish."

This is Campbell's third year with the team. She currently leads the team with 29 made three point field goals and is averaging 12.4 points per game.

"Genevieve is responsible and dependable and she does not have an aggressive personality in any way, very laid back, and quiet," Gentry said. "Very rarely will you know what she is truly thinking unless you pull it out of her. She comes from a very generous household, and so that has rubbed off on her."

There is still much Campbell wants to accomplish.

"I want to have a positive impact on students and athletes," Campbell said. "I want to be there for people who have no one else to turn to. I hope to open up a dog kennel someday. I just really enjoy taking care of animals."