LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa Ready To Embrace Challenge Of Notre Dame
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa’s recruitment was atypical.
And the process that led to the elite 2024 California linebacker committing to Notre Dame in July and ultimately signing with the Irish over USC and Ohio State on Wednesday certainly wasn’t the norm.
“He knew that the other two would be easy for him,” Viliamu-Asa’s mother, Tali tells Irish Sports Daily. “The one that he couldn't see himself at was probably the one best-suited for him because it would give him more of a challenge.
“He said he could definitely see himself at USC and Ohio State, but the unknowns of what the challenges would be for Notre Dame were uncertain to him, so it would put him obviously up to the challenge to be able to take it on.”
That may be unusual for most recruits, but Viliamu-Asa isn’t most recruits and does many things most recruits wouldn’t do.
Most recruits - or any teenager really - would never proudly post about abstinence on social media like Viliamu-Asa.
“We don't care what people say about us,” his mother says. “Kyngstonn is the same way because we are 100 percent confident in who we are as individuals.
“Like I said, he takes his faith very seriously.”
When Viliamu-Asa tore his ACL earlier in his career at St. John Bosco, he leaned on that faith and with the help of a young pastor, dug into it more.
“His faith grew stronger and stronger, but he also learned a whole lot,” his mother says.
That eventually led to a devotion group of other high school athletes.
“It started with just Kyngstonn, but now I think it's over 50 kids,” his mother says. “They meet once a week for Bible study for two hours. They study The Word and they engage in these kinds of conversations that are not ordinary for conversations.
“He's not afraid to be truthful about his faith. He stands on The Word and he pretty much lives it, honestly.”
Most of the group attends St. John Bosco, but it’s branched out to include athletes at other local high schools. When one member of the group who played football at another school was set to go through Senior Night ceremonies without any family, but Viliamu-Asa and others in the group made sure he wouldn’t be alone.
“They all went and supported him on Senior Night,” Tali says. “Took him leis, balloons and different things as a support system for another football player in a local neighborhood.”
While his platform certainly helps, Viliamu-Asa would clearly be changing lives even without football.
“Kyngstonn's always been a different kid,” his mother says. “He's quiet, he's humble, he's serious about his business. I can honestly say he's a kid who stands on business. “
After signing on Wednesday, Viliamu-Asa is only a few weeks away from moving to South Bend as an early enrollee.
“It's bittersweet,” his mother says. “The only reason why I say that is because my son will be miles away. But I am very excited for him and his future, and I'm very excited that now he can fly his wings and be able to become what he wanted to become in the future. We as parents just navigate their way through and then allow them to make that choice. He's made the choice, and that was his choice and all we're going to do is support him.
“I think more than anything, I'm excited for him. I'm very excited for him. At some point, he will have to fly the coop and be able to be independent without mommy and daddy and he'll do fine. He'll do fine.
“I don't worry about Kyngstonn because I believe we've grounded him and we trust that he'll go and do the right thing. He's really focused on his future. He has a plan on what it is, and we just want to support him every way we can.”
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