Jan. 31, 2017
Senior guard Steve Vasturia has been named one of 10 watch list finalists for the 2017 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, announced today by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
In March, five finalists will be presented to to Mr. West and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee for the annual award. The winner of the 2017 Jerry West Award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show live from The Novo by Microsoft in downtown Los Angeles on Friday, April 7, 2017.
Vasturia boasts one of the strongest all-around games in college basketball, averaging 14.1 points-per-game, 3.5 rebounds-per-game and 3.2 assists-per-game while shooting .410 from three-point range and .923 from the free throw line.
Of all 10 semifinalists (see list below) Vasturia is the only shooting guard to average over 3.0 assists-per-game and 3.0 rebounds-per-game while shooting over .900 from the free throw line and .400 from three-point range.
One of the top playmakers in the country, Vasturia made clutch plays at the end of all four of Notre Dame’s victories to begin Atlantic Coast Conference play this season, helping the team post the program’s best start in conference play (5-0).
In the ACC opener at Pittsburgh, Vasturia’s two free throws late in regulation time pushed the game to overtime and his three pointer with 2.5 seconds remaining proved to be the game winner in a 78-77 OT victory.
Vasturia would end the Pittsburgh game scoring 10 of Notre Dame’s final 12 points while assisting on the other field goal.
Against No. 9/9 Louisville, Vasturia poured in a career-best 24 points, none more important than his runner in the lane with :19 seconds remaining to put the Irish ahead 73-68 in the eventual 77-70 victory.
In the win over Clemson, Vasturia nailed a corner three-point field goal at the shot clock buzzer off an inbounds play with 1:45 remaining, pushing the Irish ahead 70-68 in an eventual 75-70 victory.
On the road at Miami, Vasturia’s drive to the basket with :08 seconds remaining put the Irish ahead 65-62 in an eventual 67-62 victory.
Vasturia followed up the clutch score against Miami to score 20 points at Virginia Tech and was named the co-ACC Player of the Week on Monday, Jan. 16.
Previous winners of the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award include Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2016) and D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State (2015). For more information on the 2017 Jerry West Award, log onto www.HoophallAwards.com.
2017 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award Finalists
Jacob Evans, Cincinnati
Marcus Foster, Creighton
Luke Kennard, Duke
Jordan Mathews, Gonzaga
James Blackmon Jr., Indiana
Peter Jok, Iowa
Deveonte’ Graham, Kansas
Malik Monk, Kentucky
Steve Vasturia, NOTRE DAME
Bryce Alford, UCLA