6-5 prize commits to UConn

Elena Delle Donne

One of the few prized women’s basketball prospects left on Tennessee’s recruiting list has chosen one of the Lady Vols’ most bitter rivals.

Elena Delle Donne, a 6-foot-5 guard from Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Del., has committed to Connecticut. Delle Donne, a first-team Parade All-American last season, is considered the top prospect in the rich 2008 class.

In an e-mail, she said how she saw herself fitting in with Connecticut’s players and the proximity of games in the Big East were factors in her choice.

“This will allow my family, including Lizzie, to come to a lot of my away and even home games,’’ she said. “It has always been very important to me that my family and close fans would be able to follow me in college.”

Delle Donne’s sister, Elizabeth, has autism and cerebral palsy. She is blind and deaf and has had more than two dozen surgeries.

The timing of the decision was somewhat surprising. Delle Donne, who averaged 28 points and 11 rebounds per game last season, had taken a summer break from basketball, forgoing a chance to play for USA Basketball’s U-19 team. Media and Internet speculation last week had Villanova and Middle Tennessee State rising up her list. Elena’s brother, Gene, is a quarterback at MTSU.

“As recently as Saturday night, I didn’t know where she was going to school,’’ said Ernie Delle Donne, Elena’s father.

Delle Donne said the break helped her sort out her priorities but also conceded that the decision “haunted” her.

“The reason it was hard to make the decision is because I’m not too good at turning people down,’’ she said, “especially when they have been so nice to me and also have wonderful programs.”

The Lady Vols were hoping to get an official visit from Delle Donne this fall. She had been to campus on unofficial trips.

Ernie Delle Donne referred to Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt and UConn coach Geno Auriemma as “living legends” and said of his daughter’s school choices:

“It was like choosing between a banana split and a hot fudge sundae. Anyway you go you’ve made a great choice.”

Delle Donne’s commitment is a huge coup for Connecticut. The Huskies have 6-foot forward Maya Moore, last season’s high school player of the year, as an incoming freshman. Huskies sophomore center Tina Charles was the 2005 national player of the year.

Now they’ll add Delle Donne, who likely will be No. 1 this year.

Tennessee was in the hunt for Moore until she committed to the Huskies in 2006. Her recruitment was thought to be one of the reasons behind the Lady Vols’ decision to end their regular-season series with UConn.

Delle Donne was one of the main reasons Tennessee was open to signing as many as seven players this fall. The Lady Vols have five commitments for their signing class and have been recruiting Delle Donne and Webb School star Glory Johnson.

UT will concentrate on Johnson, who has the Lady Vols and North Carolina at the top of her list. Webb coach Shelley Sexton Collier said last week that Johnson was scheduled to visit UT the first weekend in October and UNC the following weekend.

Dan Fleser covers women’s basketball. He can be reached at 865 342 6288.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!