Pascack Valley hoopster, UMass Boston commit Juliana Vassallo leads on and off the court
RIVER VALE, N.J. — Juliana (Jules) Vassallo has been playing basketball for most of her life. She started hooping when she was in kindergarten. By the time she was in 2nd grade, she was playing on the town travel team. Throughout elementary school and middle school, she played for AAU teams. “During my high school years, I started playing with Empire State Blue Flames,” she says, “where we traveled to many different places competing against great competition.”
From the start, Jules loved the fast pace of basketball. She says, “I liked how whether you are on offense or defense there is always something to be focused on. I also liked how it is a team game.”
As she progressed in her basketball career, she also enjoyed seeing the improvement in her own game. She says, “Seeing improvement in myself always makes me want to work even harder so I can continue seeing improvement and keep getting better.”
High School Standout
Jules is now in her 4th season playing hoops for the Pascack Valley High School Girls’ Basketball squad. And she’s improved each season. As a freshman, she earned honorable mention all-league. By her sophomore year, she was named 2nd team all-league. In her junior campaign, she was named 3rd team all-county and first team in the national division.
But for Jules, a consummate team player, the team’s 2019 state sectional run is one of her favorite memories. She says, “I’ll never forget the first round of state sectionals against Teaneck in 2019. It was my freshman year and we beat Teaneck 72-48. The score was close the whole time until we slipped away and got a big lead in the third quarter. We ended up making it all the way to the semifinals where we lost to Chatham.”
Through the years, Jules has not only grown as a player, but also as a leader on the team. She says, “Leadership to me means being a voice. As a leader, I think it is very important to motivate and push my teammates past their limits. Leading my teammates by example is something that I try to do whether it is on the court, in practice, or even in the team room. By pushing my teammates past their limits, I know it will help them individually get better and for us to get better as a team.”
For Jules, leadership extends beyond the basketball season; it is a year-round endeavor. She says, “I try to embody leadership as much as I can throughout the season and off-season. I always want my teammates to know that I’ve got their back through the highs and lows. During practices, I will cheer my teammates on and if some of them are confused on a drill, I will make sure to go over and explain it to them. During games, if they are having an off performance, I will encourage them to keep their head up.”
Off the Court
Jules is much more than a basketball player. She has made the honor roll as a freshman, sophomore, and junior. She plans to do shot put for the Track and Field team in the spring. She is also a part of the Pascack Valley internship program. She says, “I intern at Foundations Physical Therapy where I assist patients and learn more about the field of study in which I want to go into. Being able to watch the therapists and learning firsthand from them is a really great experience.” Lastly, prior to the COVID pandemic, she was a junior volunteer at Valley Hospital
Believe it or not, between schoolwork, athletics, and her internship, Jules occasionally has down time (though not a lot!). She says, “I enjoy spending time with my friends and family when I have free time.” Among her biggest fans are Mom (Ada), Dad (Anthony), and sisters (Alexa, 21 and Stella, 12). She also enjoys lifting and working out, especially during the off-season.
Next Chapter
She is committed to the UMass Boston WBB team.
Ada says, “I’m not surprised of all Jules has accomplished. She has always been a driven and goal-oriented individual. Basketball has always been part of her journey and to see her live out her dream of playing college ball is a proud moment for us.”
Anthony adds, “I’ve never missed many of Jules’ games. She’s so much fun to watch and I really enjoy it. Her focus on self-improvement and dedication to the game is inspiring. She’s worked hard to give herself the opportunity to play in college and I’m looking forward to continuing to be there to see her play.”
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