Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa Focused On Growth & Future with Notre Dame Commitment

Notre Dame sent a statement on the recruiting trail on Sunday as 2024 St. John Bosco (Calif.) linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa‍ gave his verbal pledge to the Fighting Irish. 

It was a message to the country that Notre Dame could land one of the top players in the nation, but they could go head-to-head against Ohio State and USC. 

Viliamu-Asa kept his decision close to the vest as he told his mother and Notre Dame of his plans on Saturday after weighing the pros and cons between the three schools over the last few weeks. 

“I think it was close between all three,” Viliamu-Asa stated. “USC was on my mind the whole time. It really backed and forth between those three. It was a tough decision.” 

The four-star prospect is mature beyond his years, but it doesn’t mean Viliamu-Asa was immune to the emotions following an official visit. In fact, if Viliamu-Asa made his decision on that alone, it’s not likely Notre Dame would have landed his commitment. 

“I think after every visit, I felt really good,” explained Viliamu-Asa. “I felt really good about SC after that visit and after Ohio State. I really felt good about both of them. After the visits, I knew I could really see myself at USC and Ohio State.

“I couldn’t see myself at Notre Dame. What solidified it for me was I took this week to seek God’s will for me. I read a verse - Hebrews 11:1. It talks about faith as assurance of things we can’t see. I feel like God was telling me he wanted to trust him and I couldn’t see because he had it in place. Notre Dame is a great school. It’s a place for me to be locked in and it’s a 40-year decision with a global network and it’s a chance to compete at a high level.” 

Viliamu-Asa got away from the recruiting process last week as he spent a few days at Camp Cedar Crest on a church retreat. The trip allowed him to be a kid, but also to spend some quiet moments alone to pray and seek guidance heading into Sunday’s decision. 

“I knew God was going to figure it out,” Viliamu-Asa said. “This whole time I wasn’t really stressing. I was trusting God’s plan and eventually, God directed me on the right path. I was confident with what he had planned for him. There wasn’t any time I was worried or stressed.”

The football program and academics speak for themselves at Notre Dame, but it was the staff’s approach over the last few weeks that stuck out to Viliamu-Asa. The staff answered his questions and made time for him, but the ability to keep calm despite feeling they trailed Ohio State prevailed in the end. 

“I think one thing was they didn’t really bother me,” Viliamu-Asa stated. “They were the same throughout the whole process. These last two weeks, they wanted to give me my space to really think about what I wanted to do instead of pressuring me. That really spoke hard. They’ve been transparent throughout the whole process. They’ve been genuine and communicative with me and my family and that was really important to me.” 

Viliamu-Asa also took control of his own recruitment as he reached out to former players, but also made sure to pick the brain of those who are currently in the program. The California native forged relationships with Junior Tuihalamaka, who is from the same area of Southern California, while also growing close with linebacker Marist Liufau. 

“It was really important, especially with guys like Junior and Marist to get their perspective on Polynesians leaving what’s normal,” explained Viliamu-Asa. “To see they were able to take a risk and they know it’s going to pay off one day. It was really comforting that someone else did it and I don’t have to be scared to take that step.” 

The St. John Bosco star also made sure to connect with Notre Dame commits. Viliamu-Asa met several of Notre Dame’s top commitments during his official visit and remained in contact with them as he went into decision mode. 

Now as part of the class, Viliamu-Asa will work to finish the class strong, but he also knows they are ready to work when they arrive on campus. 

“They already have a great class together with CJ (Carr), Cam (Williams), Aneyas (Williams) and all those guys,” Viliamu-Asa said. “I’ve been around them. Regardless, we’re going to play with what we got. We’re going to work.” 

In the end, Viliamu-Asa said he doesn’t have to compromise anything at Notre Dame. If there was a compromise, it would be location as USC is in his backyard, but that’s also part of the reason Viliamu-Asa chose Notre Dame. 

“The location situation, I’m excited,” stated Viliamu-Asa. “I’m excited to be in a place I’m uncomfortable or unfamiliar with. It’s going to force me to grow up and I feel like it’s going to make me better.” 

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