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Greivis Vasquez, on and off the court

Maryland basketball's Greivis Vasquez is a star in College Park -- and a bright hope back home in Caracas, Venezuela.

Local residents in Caracas, Venezuela, are always eager to play a pickup game with Greivis Vasquez, center, on the court where he practiced with his first basketball team as a child. Vasquez, a senior star on the University of Maryland basketball team, is a contender for a place in the NBA. Maryland basketball fans, who over the past three seasons have come to expect outsized boisterousness from the 6-foot-5 point guard, are familiar with Vasquez's hyper-macho bravado, no-look passes, last-shot gumption and post-game jabbering.

Local residents in Caracas, Venezuela, are always eager to play a pickup game with Greivis Vasquez, center, on the court where he practiced with his first basketball team as a child. Vasquez, a senior star on the University of Maryland basketball team, is a contender for a place in the NBA. Maryland basketball fans, who over the past three seasons have come to expect outsized boisterousness from the 6-foot-5 point guard, are familiar with Vasquez's hyper-macho bravado, no-look passes, last-shot gumption and post-game jabbering.

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Duke University fans heckle Vasquez during a game last January. When the Terrapins did not receive a NCAA tournament bid his freshman year, Vasquez tried to make up for Maryland's deficiencies -- often to the team's detriment. He tried to be all things to his team offensively and ended up displaying a lack of trust in his teammates. The Terrapins lost 15 games during their 2007-2008 campaign, and Vasquez's facial contortions and on-court gesticulations broadcast his frustration for all to see.

Duke University fans heckle Vasquez during a game last January. When the Terrapins did not receive a NCAA tournament bid his freshman year, Vasquez tried to make up for Maryland's deficiencies -- often to the team's detriment. He tried to be all things to his team offensively and ended up displaying a lack of trust in his teammates. The Terrapins lost 15 games during their 2007-2008 campaign, and Vasquez's facial contortions and on-court gesticulations broadcast his frustration for all to see.

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Vasquez stretches before practice with the Venezuelan National Team in his hometown of Caracas. "He's always right there, taking responsibility," says Francisco Diez, the Venezuelan national team technical director. "He likes to take the last shot. I'm not comparing him to Michael Jordan, but Michael Jordan say many times, 'I'm responsible for the last shot.' That's what Greivis likes to do."

Vasquez stretches before practice with the Venezuelan National Team in his hometown of Caracas. "He's always right there, taking responsibility," says Francisco Diez, the Venezuelan national team technical director. "He likes to take the last shot. I'm not comparing him to Michael Jordan, but Michael Jordan say many times, 'I'm responsible for the last shot.' That's what Greivis likes to do."

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Vasquez after a practice game with the Venezuelan National basketball team at its facilities in La Guaira. In Venezuela, his athletic prowess makes him widely recognizable -- kids in street games know his name, emulate him. "We're proud of him because he's from the barrio, too," says one.

Vasquez after a practice game with the Venezuelan National basketball team at its facilities in La Guaira. In Venezuela, his athletic prowess makes him widely recognizable -- kids in street games know his name, emulate him. "We're proud of him because he's from the barrio, too," says one.

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Vasquez plays basketball on a kid-sized court with his 13-year-old second cousin Miguel Vasquez in Caracas. "I'm very proud of my cousin, and hope he makes the NBA," says Miguel.

Vasquez plays basketball on a kid-sized court with his 13-year-old second cousin Miguel Vasquez in Caracas. "I'm very proud of my cousin, and hope he makes the NBA," says Miguel.

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Vasquez with his mother, Ivis Rodriguez, in his hometown of Caracas. Rodriguez says she doesn't know the origin of her son's intense passion. "Where does it come from?" she says with a smile. "He's always had it."

Vasquez with his mother, Ivis Rodriguez, in his hometown of Caracas. Rodriguez says she doesn't know the origin of her son's intense passion. "Where does it come from?" she says with a smile. "He's always had it."

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Vasquez , seated, poses with, from left, his mother, brother Ingerman Sanoja, childhood mentor Robert Gonzalez and nephew Ingerman Jr.

Vasquez , seated, poses with, from left, his mother, brother Ingerman Sanoja, childhood mentor Robert Gonzalez and nephew Ingerman Jr.

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Vasquez and family at his mother's home in Caracas. "Sometimes people misinterpret it," Vasquez says of the sometimes-abrasive way he carries himself on the court. "But the reason I do it and I play with so much passion is because I have a family that motivates me. I have a whole country that motivates me."

Vasquez and family at his mother's home in Caracas. "Sometimes people misinterpret it," Vasquez says of the sometimes-abrasive way he carries himself on the court. "But the reason I do it and I play with so much passion is because I have a family that motivates me. I have a whole country that motivates me."

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A collection of memorabilia at the home of Vasquez's father, Gregorio Vasquez. When Greivis was a boy, Gregorio would take him to see the city's professional basketball team and let the games serve as motivation to keep his son's focus on basketball and away from the Caracas "malandros," or drug dealers. Gregorio knew how to get a point across: Do you want to do drugs and get killed, Greivis? Or do you want to live the good life?

A collection of memorabilia at the home of Vasquez's father, Gregorio Vasquez. When Greivis was a boy, Gregorio would take him to see the city's professional basketball team and let the games serve as motivation to keep his son's focus on basketball and away from the Caracas "malandros," or drug dealers. Gregorio knew how to get a point across: Do you want to do drugs and get killed, Greivis? Or do you want to live the good life?

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Vasquez with his grandmother, Ramona Vasquez, in Caracas.

Vasquez with his grandmother, Ramona Vasquez, in Caracas.

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Teenagers from Cristo al Reves neighborhood play basketball on their home court. Much of Vasquez's flashy and aggressive signature style of play can be seen in street games in the slums of Caracas.

Teenagers from Cristo al Reves neighborhood play basketball on their home court. Much of Vasquez's flashy and aggressive signature style of play can be seen in street games in the slums of Caracas.

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Vasquez plays a pick-up game on the court where he practiced with his first basketball team as a child.

Vasquez plays a pick-up game on the court where he practiced with his first basketball team as a child.

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If he's able to make it to the NBA, Vasquez hopes it will mean good things for his home country, too. "I want to be the guy that by the end of my NBA career or whatever I do, to have a company, to have something that generates jobs," Vasquez said. "And I know that it's going to take a lot of work, but in the meantime, I have to do some right things with my image. I want to be somebody that everybody likes and everybody goes to and everybody remembers, because I'm a good guy that wants to help. I want to help."

If he's able to make it to the NBA, Vasquez hopes it will mean good things for his home country, too. "I want to be the guy that by the end of my NBA career or whatever I do, to have a company, to have something that generates jobs," Vasquez said. "And I know that it's going to take a lot of work, but in the meantime, I have to do some right things with my image. I want to be somebody that everybody likes and everybody goes to and everybody remembers, because I'm a good guy that wants to help. I want to help."

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Vasquez buys chicha, a sugary milk drink sprinkled with cinnamon, from a street vendor in Caracas. He says he used to buy chicha from this particular stand every day on his walk to school.

Vasquez buys chicha, a sugary milk drink sprinkled with cinnamon, from a street vendor in Caracas. He says he used to buy chicha from this particular stand every day on his walk to school.

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With eight months remaining until next year's NBA draft, Vasquez, whose relationship with Maryland fans has been tenuous, says it will be crucial for him to be more level-headed on the court this season and more mature in his comments off it.

With eight months remaining until next year's NBA draft, Vasquez, whose relationship with Maryland fans has been tenuous, says it will be crucial for him to be more level-headed on the court this season and more mature in his comments off it.

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Family members with Maryland player No. 21 at a party in Caracas. "He has a good chance," former NBA player Oscar Torres says of Vasquez. "But it's not easy ... to play in the NBA because you are Latino and maybe you have 1,000 people in front of you. You have to work hard, very hard."

Family members with Maryland player No. 21 at a party in Caracas. "He has a good chance," former NBA player Oscar Torres says of Vasquez. "But it's not easy ... to play in the NBA because you are Latino and maybe you have 1,000 people in front of you. You have to work hard, very hard."

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Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor, Producer Troy Witcher Text Editor Amanda McGrath

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This Story Court drama Article \| University of Maryland star point guard Greivis Vasquez is hoping to make it to the NBA. So are basketball fans back in his homeland of Venezuela. Transcript: Greivis Vasquez's hoop dreams Greivis Vasquez, on and off the court		TOOLBOX E-Mail This Save/Share + Digg Facebook Reddit Twitter myspace del.icio.us NewsTrust Stumble It! COMMENT 0 Comments Your browser's settings may be preventing you from commenting on and viewing comments about this item. See instructions for fixing the problem. Discussion Policy CLOSE Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post. Who's Blogging » Links to this gallery		More on washingtonpost.com • More Photo News » washingtonpost.com
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