Nov. 20, 2015
By: Tristan Vitale
V.J. Beachem is a junior forward out of Fort Wayne, Ind. He is a sharpshooter from the perimeter and made 41.6 percent of his 3-point attempts coming off the bench for the Irish last season. After a strong performance his sophomore year, he has proven himself ready to take on a starting spot in the Notre Dame lineup for the 2015-16 season. Off the court, Beachem is a marketing major and enrolled in the Mendoza College of Business.
Q: If you played a sport other than basketball, what would it be?
A: Baseball. I played while I was growing up, and then I stopped once I got to high school. I was a pitcher.
Q: Who is your favorite professional athlete?
A: Kobe Bryant, even though he’s old now, just because I loved watching him growing up.
Q: Do you have any superstitions before games?
A: I have to take a nap, no matter what. It doesn’t matter if it’s 45 minutes, I just have to take a little nap.
Q: What is one thing you can’t live without?
Bonzie Colson: His phone.
Beachem: My phone, you heard it first from Bonzie Colson.
Q: What’s your favorite TV show?
A: It’s an old one, but Martin.
Q: Where is your favorite place to eat?
A: As far as in South Bend, it’s Olive Garden. We’re about to go right after this.
Q: Do you have any special talents?
Beachem: You can ask Bonzie or Demetrius [Jackson] or Zach [Auguste]–they know I’m the best Madden player on the team.
Bonzie Colson: No, that is a lie!
Q: What team do you play with in Madden?
A: I like the Steelers because the have the best running back and best receiver in the game.
Q: What’s your favorite part about your hometown of Fort Wayne?
A: It’s the city that raised me. Just growing up and playing basketball there, playing at the YMCA’s and Spiece Fieldhouse all the time were my favorite parts.
Q: What’s it like getting to play college basketball in your home state?
A: My parents can come to every home game and that’s something that I love about it, being so close to them.
Q: As an only child, what is it like living with roommates in college?
A: It was kind of weird at first because you’re in a little bitty room with somebody, but it’s nice now. My roommate is DeShone Kizer, so it’s cool.
Q: Do you and DeShone have lofted beds?
A: No, both of ours are on the floor so we don’t hit our heads.