Medford-native Steve Vasturia talks about his time at Notre Dame and his future
A six-foot, six-inch basketball player from Medford is approaching a significant time in his young life. Steve Vasturia, who played his high school basketball at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School and moved on to play guard at Notre Dame, is preparing for the possibility that he will be playing professional basketball.
“It is exciting,” Vasturia said. “It is new and it is different not being part of the Notre Dame basketball team anymore, and to have the chance to play and have a pro career playing basketball is obviously something that many kids grow up wanting to do. I’m really excited about the chance to keep playing, wherever that is. I think it is pretty unbelievable that I get to try to make some money and play sports. I’m really excited about it.”
Vasturia accomplished a lot while playing for the Fighting Irish. He finished second in school history in games played with 137. This past season, he was named an All-ACC Honorable Mention. He set a school record by completing 91 percent of his free throws. He also was a member of the teams that appeared in the Elite Eight twice.
“It was an awesome four years,” Vasturia said. “I had a ton of success. I think that as a team, we won a lot of big games, but just being able to come out of the tunnel and play and wear a Notre Dame jersey and being a part of a program and university that is so prestigious was really an honor. I think the teammates and the relationships that I have made over the four years are going to be people I will be friends with for a long time. I was really lucky to be a part of some great teams and have success and play in the NCAA tournament and make a deep run in the tournament, and winning an ACC championship is something that a lot of people do not get to do. A lot of that I have to give credit to Coach (Mike) Brey. Me and him are really close, and I will be forever grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to come here. He did such a good job with his guys of developing players like myself for four years and helping them get better and learn the game. I think he is one of the best coaches in the country.”
Vasturia’s roots trace back to Medford, a place where he grew up and remembers fondly.
“I have been there my whole life,” Vasturia said. “My parents still live there. I have a ton of great memories. When I think about Medford, I think about growing up and playing Medford Youth Athletic Association sports. I think being a part of those teams and playing everything from baseball, football, soccer, basketball, just learning to play. It’s a great place to grow up. I was talking with my parents when they were out here for a banquet, being outside in the front yard. Me and my two brothers played basketball for hours. My parents did everything to give us every opportunity that I could ask for. I give a lot of credit to them. I love going back home and hanging out in Medford, seeing old friends. It is a great place to grow up and live.”
With Vasturia about to graduate, he will be leaving Notre Dame with his eyes on a possible professional career. He hopes he left a good memory for people to remember him as a member of the Fighting Irish.
“I hope they say that is a guy who worked his butt off and he played the game the right way,” Vasturia said. “One thing that I have always been able to do is to make my teammates better. I want to be recognized as a winner. That is one thing playing for Notre Dame, we had a lot of success and won a lot of games, so I hope people look back at that and people recognize that I was part of a winning tradition. That is important to me. I wanted to play the game the right way. I did not do anything that would have jeopardized the university or myself. As a person, it is the same thing. Just somebody that worked hard, treats people the right way and wanted to be known as a good guy on and off the court.”
Even with the legacy Vasturia has left at Notre Dame, he says that none of it would have been possible without his parents, John and Kathleen.
“My parents put me in every position and opportunity that I could ask for, and I would not be in the position I am today without them,” he said.
