In the middle of an empty YMCA gym, third-grade Nisha Musunuri ’25 stands with an orange ball in her hand, ready to take her first shot. With her dad by her side, she shoots… and misses. Instead of giving up, she ran over to pick the ball up again, and kept shooting, eventually she made her first basket.
Musunuri participated in her first Amateur Athlete Union (AAU) in 8th grade for Full Package, the name of her first AAU team. Prior to her first high school season at Stevenson, Musunuri worked on her shots, practicing every day on her form and making sure her shot was constantly accurate. During her Full Package season, she played against high school girls which better prepared her for her high school season as she was ready for the more fast paced game.
Now, nine years later, Musunuri is getting ready to start her final high school season. As a four-year varsity basketball player, she has not only learned more about her sport but also her identity. Musunuri believes that being team captain both her junior and senior years has helped shape her into the person she is today.
“I’ve learned a lot about leadership,” Musunuri said. “Going four years through this program, I’ve had many different roles and responsibilities, so adjusting to what my team needs from me was a huge learning aspect of my experience.”
Musunuri has a lot to be proud of but also a lot to look forward to. After committing to play college basketball at Carnegie Mellon University next November, she’s excited to continue her basketball journey beyond her high school career. Regan Carmichael, Varsity Girls Basketball head coach, notes that Musunuri is the perfect example of what it takes to be recruited to what Carmichael considers the most competitive Division III basketball conference.
“When I watch her play basketball, it’s like an artist painting, and it’s one of the few times I’ve felt that way,” Carmichael said. “When Nisha plays, it’s like the ball is a part of her which makes it really beautiful to watch her play. Honestly, I feel really privileged to have watched her build her craft.”
Nevertheless, Musunuri said that she wasn’t always the top player on the team and had to work for her spot she has today. Kendell Williams ’24, former teammate and Stevenson alumni, recognizes how much Musunuri has grown as Musunuri became a two-time All-Conference, All-State honorable mention, and a two-time All-Area awarded by the North Suburban Conference.
“Coming in her freshman year, she was the super-young and scrawny freshman whose mask was always way too big for her face,”Williams said. “Her junior year, she was captain and had to really embrace a leadership role. It was awesome just watching her grow up.”
Williams notes that Musunuri is a well-rounded person who always makes decisions with others in mind, whether it be for school, friends, or basketball. Carmichael agrees, saying that one of Musunuri’s strengths is her ability to both challenge and support people around her.
“No matter if it is school, sports, or a friendship, she’s always fully committed to what she does,” Williams said. “She puts her all into everything, and I truly commend her for this, because it is extremely difficult.”
With the 2024–25 basketball season—her final high school season—Musunuri cherishes how the sport has shaped her life, helping her meet new people and create lifelong friendships. According to Carmichael, Musunuri not only constantly adapts to playing many roles on the court to match what the team needs but also serves as a role model for the girls basketball community.
“There’s girls that see her and think ‘I want to be that; that’s a possibility for me’,’” Carmichael said. “Which is so cool, for a high school athlete, to have such an impact like that.”
Carmichael describes seeing middle school athletes watch basketball games at Stevenson and wonders if Musunuri’s impact will become something like a “legacy” for those who aspire to be like her. Musunuri hopes she can show the community that anyone can play basketball at a high level.
“Basketball has allowed me to break free from many of the stereotypes that are held for Indian females and create a name for myself this way, “ Musunuri said.