Basketball: Prep's Vasturia has number retired

St. Joseph's Prep retired the No. 32 jersey of senior basketball standout Steve Vasturia in a Thursday afternoon ceremony at the school's Kelly Fieldhouse.

In his career at the Prep, Vasturia, a 6-foot-5 guard who is ticketed for Notre Dame, totaled 1,764 points. Twice selected as the Catholic League's most valuable player, he shot 89.2 percent (378 for 424) from the free-throw line.

Last season, while leading the Hawks to a 24-6 record and the PIAA Class AAAA state semifinals, Vasturia averaged 20.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.1 steals. He shot 49.6 percent from the field (38.3 percent from beyond the arc) and 88.1 percent from the line.

Vasturia became the third Prep student-athlete to have his number retired.

Rich Gannon, who quarterbacked the Hawks in the early 1980s, had his No. 12 jersey retired. He later starred at Delaware and with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders. He was a member of the Class of 1983.

The Prep also retired the No. 28 jersey worn by lacrosse player Pat Byrnes, who died in a single car accident in August 2004. He was 17 and about to enter his senior year.