Vasquez Not Short on Talent

In fact, Vasquez said, he could already be playing for money. His journey to the U.S. began when he was named the most valuable player in a South American tournament while playing for the Venezuelan junior national team. That led to offers from Spanish and Venezuelan professional teams, Vasquez said.

Eventually, Vasquez said, he made the decision to go to high school in the U.S., considering opportunities to play at Montrose or St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, N.J., where Danny Hurley is the coach.

"It's better than if I were to just go to Spain and play professionally," he said. "I think this is the way you get better."

Still, knowing no one and speaking no English, Vasquez said the adjustment was difficult. He watched television at night and read the newspaper to try to improve his language skills. Other Montrose international players Uche Echefu, K.J. Matsui and Taishi Ito encouraged him, he said. (Echefu, Matsui and Vasquez lived at the same house last season.)

In time, things began to come together. If he needed one more boost, Vasquez got it last month when he played in a tournament with a team from Virginia Beach run by Boo Williams. Paired in the backcourt with Eric Hayes of Potomac (Va.), Vasquez impressed those in attendance; he also enjoyed playing and rooming with Hayes, who already has announced he will attend Maryland.

"I can play point guard, he can play point guard; I can play shooting guard, he can play shooting guard," Vasquez said. "I had a lot of fun."

Whether the pair plays together in college remains to be seen. Vasquez said Maryland "is at the top of my list," but he has yet to take any official visits. He also likes North Carolina, N.C. State and Gonzaga; North Carolina, he said while wearing a rubber Carolina blue bracelet, is quite popular in Venezuela.

All in all, those four inches Vasquez lost while coming to North America have hardly been missed.

"I'll take a 6-5 Greivis over most big men," Vetter said.