Versatile Vasturia leads SJ Prep over Judge

DOUBLE-TAKES by fans in the basketball know were plentiful.

There the folks were, perched in spots throughout Father Judge High's close-to-packed gym, eager to evaluate the skills of a junior guard who has already made a commitment to Notre Dame.

Instead, you would have thought Shaquille O'Neal was on the premises. Or at least Dirk Nowitzki.

The name is Stephen Vasturia, and, shockingly, the low block is now his home! On occasion, anyway. The reason: St. Joseph's Prep has no true inside players, and since Vasturia, who's still growing, now goes 6-4 (and 185 pounds), you'll see him everywhere from point guard to pseudo center.

"Whatever helps us win," he said, simply.

Monday night, Vasturia hustled and bustled - and mixed in large amounts of silky smooth - for 31 points, 13 rebounds and four assists as the Prep jolted Judge, 71-57, in Catholic League action. He shot 12-for-19 from the floor (2-for-5 on treys) and 5-for-5 at the line (perfection there is nothing new) and packed 15 of his markers into a 22-5 second quarter.

Coach William "Speedy" Morris said the early game plan indeed was to feature Vasturia in down-low post-ups.

"But even if we hadn't told him, he would have been down there," he added. "I've never had a high school player who reads defenses as well as Steve does. That's why he's such a special player.

"He fades, slips, pops, rolls . . . That's why he's so tough to guard. He's constantly moving without the ball and then when he gets it, he can do so many things."

And then later, he can act as if nothing special happened.

Stephen Vasturia's talents are exceeded only by his humility.

"We were looking for the easiest ways to score," he said. "Mismatches here. Mismatches there. We just run our offense and take the best shots that come up."

Thanks to junior guard Steven Griffin, who popped his way to 15 points, Judge exploded to a 22-14 lead in the first 8 minutes. Griffin missed most of the second quarter with foul miseries, however, and the Prep took full advantage.

Vasturia's right-wing trey got the Hawks close at 23-22. He then posted a three-point play off a fastbreak pass from PJ Kelly, and the impressive run was onnnnnly beginning.

On a basket that made it 45-29, Vasturia was stationed along the left baseline. A shot missed and, while falling out of bounds, he guided the ball to Kevin Oberlies for an easy layup. Early in the fourth quarter, Miles Overton missed a trey. Gene Williams could not convert the follow, but Vasturia was there to miss, then make, tight follows. The successful one was sent toward the ceiling with his left hand. Twice more before the end of the game, he embarked on fluid drives for lefthanded layups.

"I do everything in my life righthanded," he said, squelching thoughts that he might be ambidextrous. "I do like to think I can be versatile, though. Take what they give you. I was able to go to my left a lot, so I did."

He added, "We came in here with a good mindset. Everybody on our team can shoot and handle the ball, so that really helps."

Mostly, the Prep is considered a three-headed monster, thanks to Vasturia, Overton (18 points, two treys) and Williams. In this one, Williams didn't score his first point (of nine) until 3:54 remained in the third quarter. In all, Oberlies managed 10 points and Kelly dished three assists.

"Oberlies, he's our secret weapon," Morris said, smiling. "Everybody thinks he can't shoot. For the year he's shooting 63 percent from the floor and 55 on threes."

Griffin finished with 29 points, thanks to 11-for-18 from the floor (5-for-11 on treys) and 2-for-2 at the line. He also made three steals. Joe Robinson added 10 points and 13 boards, while Sean Hanna had three assists.

Every time Vasturia takes the floor, he knows a decent segment of the viewing audience is nudging someone nearby and saying, "That's the kid that's going to Notre Dame. I want to check him out."

Added pressure?

"Well, it definitely provides motivation," Vasturia said. "But more importantly, I'm just trying to work hard and win games. That other stuff just plays itself out."

Shaq. Dirk. The always impressive Stephen. Monday night, people saw many versions of No. 32 from St. Joe's Prep.