South Jersey resident Vasturia ‘grateful’ for audition chance
CAMDEN, N.J. » For as long as Steve Vasturia has played basketball, he envisioned a day like he enjoyed Wednesday.
Wake up at his home in Medford, N.J. Drive to work. Climb into 76ers gear. Play, at least in a way, for his favorite team.
“Yeah, it was a pretty awesome experience,” said the Notre Dame guard by way of St. Joseph’s Prep after a morning Sixers tryout. “I was really just honored to be here. Obviously, growing up as a Sixers fan and living about 15 minutes down the road, to come down here and put on the jersey and compete with some of the guys was just a really great experience.
“And I’m grateful for the opportunity to come out here and show some people what I can do.”
The 6-foot-6 Vasturia went through a lengthy workout, the last 15 minutes open to the press, along with forward Jordan Bell and his Oregon teammate Tyler Dorsey, center Thomas Bryant of Indiana, Georgetown guard L.J. Peak and French professional guard Elie Okobo.
Much of the competition, and all that was visible to the media, was of the 3-on-3 variety, some at full court. That might have limited Vasturia, whose No. 32 is retired at the Prep and who averaged 13.1 points for the Fighting Irish last season.
“A workout of a 3-on-3 or six-man setting isn’t great for all types of players,” said Sixers vice president Brandon Williams, the general manager of the DLeague Sevens. “Steve looks much better in the context of 5-on-5. Watching him at the Portsmouth Invitational is an example, making the right pass at the right time, knowing when to jam a player. He doesn’t have elite quickness, but having the ability to read an offensive player, I really respect winning. I think a lot of us do, and it’s one of the reasons why he’s here. Because we’ve seen that with other players that were overlooked.”
Vasturia, 22, is not projected as an NBA draft pick, but has auditioned for the Knicks and has been invited to try out for the Nets. Also, he was an elite shooter at the Prep, and he made a Notre Dame record 91 percent of his free throws last season, skills that could appeal to Brett Brown, who has been begging shooting.
A lifelong Sixers fan, whose family once owned season tickets, Vasturia would delight in any opportunity with his hometown NBA team.
“I was at Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals when Allen Iverson had 50, I think,” said Vasturia, of a 2001 Sixers victory over the Bucks when Iverson actually scored 44. “I’ll always remember that.”
*** Furkan Korkmaz, a firstround Sixers draft selection last year, was at the practice facility Tuesday. His workouts were closed to the press. Korkmaz, the Sixers said, will meet with the media Monday.
A 6-8 guard from Turkey, he was named as the “Best Young Player” in the Basketball Champions League. for outside The 19-year-old has not signed with the Sixers, who have seemed to prefer that he continue to mature as a player in Europe.
“He’s coming over to just visit with the staff, get in the gym, work out with us,” Bryan Colangelo said. “We’ve been talking quite a bit about getting to know him better.
“I spent some time overseas this year watching him play, talking to him and doing some things. I’ve got a better feel for who he is and where he is at this stage of his development. We want to get a better, closer look at him. I want the coaches to get a better feel for him before a decision is made as to what happens, roster-wise, next year.”
*** NOTES » Joel Embiid and Justin Anderson were among the Sixers visible onsite Wednesday. Anderson was in workout gear, shooting. Embiid sat near Brett Brown to watch the workouts. … The 76ers will have four second-round picks. Their Wednesday auditions essentially were for that purpose. Williams: “This is a group with a lot to prove. They played with a lot of energy. Some of the things that we’re looking at are how they might fit as role players or as guys that we bring in summer league or camp.” … Among the skills that caught Williams’ attention was the way Bell, an accomplished high school volleyball player from Los Angeles, can block shots with two hands … Through mutual friends, Bell was invited to spend time Tuesday at Embiid’s house. “I beat his school (Kansas) this year,” Bell said. “So I talked some smack to him.”