HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK : Multifaceted Steffe Pumps Up Hart : Basketball: Senior swingman leads Indians to title of their own tournament with his all-around play.

Matt Steffe could not eat.

Sleep was out of the question.

Steffe and his Hart High teammates would play their most important nonleague basketball game the following night against one of the area’s top teams, Simi Valley. As he tossed and turned in bed, Steffe could think about only the Pioneers.

“I get like that a lot before big games,” Steffe said. “I love the game so much that I get totally caught up in it.

“I also wanted to beat Simi real bad. I wanted us to take it to them.”

Led by Steffe, the Indians did exactly that.

The 6-foot-7, 195-pound senior swingman recorded game highs of 23 points and 10 rebounds to propel Hart to a dramatic 62-61 victory over Simi Valley in the championship game of the Hart tournament last week. The victory gave the Indians only their second title in the tournament’s 21 years.

“His play was a big key for us,” Hart Coach Mike May said. “I thought he played well offensively and he rebounded well. His defense was even better at times.”

Steffe was outstanding throughout the tournament. He averaged 24.7 points and 10.5 rebounds as Hart (7-5) swept four games. For his efforts, Steffe was named tournament most valuable player.

“That win was so huge because we had been struggling a little bit in the preseason before we started the tournament, and to beat a good team like Simi just gives you a big boost,” Steffe said. “That let the student body, the faculty, everybody, see what we can do.”

What Steffe can do is not in question.

He leads the team with averages of 22.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots. Last season he posted totals of 16.2 points and 12.2 rebounds as Hart tied for the Foothill League title.

Steffe, a team captain, rates among the area’s most versatile players. He patterns his style after his two favorite players: Chris Mullin of the Golden State Warriors and Anfernee Hardaway of Memphis State. Both are also 6-7 and can play several positions.

For a tall player, Steffe has a deft touch from three-point range. He has made 24 of 71 three-point attempts (33.8%). He had six three-point baskets in a 34-point performance against Beverly Hills in the tournament.

His slight frame belies his knack for scoring inside against even the most bulky defenders.

“My versatility and my athleticism are my best attributes,” Steffe said. “A lot of players look at me and say, ‘He can’t hit it from out there,’ so they leave me alone early in the game until I start knocking them down.

“Then, when they come out to play me, I can go down low and work the inside. That lets me keep my game going even if my shot isn’t falling from outside.”

However, Steffe acknowledges he needs to add weight.

“Yeah, I really have to bulk up,” he said. “My doctor said that I’m still growing so, hopefully, when I stop I’ll be able to put on some more muscle. I eat a lot, it just doesn’t go anywhere.”

When not eating or studying to maintain his 3.27 grade-point average, Steffe usually can be found working on his game. Viewing videotapes of his performances is another of Steffe’s passions. He scrutinizes every aspect of his play, searching for flaws.

“I go to the gym as much as I can on the weekends because I just love basketball, and I want to keep getting better,” he said. “I study my form on tapes for the same reason.”

His efforts currently are focused on improving dribbling. Steffe has been told he probably will be a shooting guard in college, so he is trying to get the jump on the competition. “Before, I just used to play on my ability alone, but I work hard now because I know there are a lot of talented people out there,” he said. “You have to try to stay ahead.”