(Guru's Note: Fixing gramar and typos from earlier post. This is the rough copy sent to the office for editing and Tuesday print editions.)
By Mel Greenberg
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Wilmington's Elena Delle Donne, perhaps one of the most heralded high school women's basketball players of all time, is heading for the University of Delaware, she said in a statement Monday.
The nation’s top high school prospect last season, Delle Donne announced her decision after telling Connecticut last week she had changed her mind and will not join the powerful Huskies this fall.
UConn coach Geno Auriemma, whose team is this season’s NCAA favorite, announced Delle Donne’s reversal in a release sent by the university on Saturday.
The former Ursuline Academy star was not available for comment Monday and the release on her behalf was sent by Veronica Algeo, her longtime Fencor AAU coach.
Algeo has been requested by Delle Donne not to comment on her decisions.
It is unclear whether Delle Donne will play basketball at all with the Blue Hens, a sport for which she has received wide acclaim since the 7th grade, if not earlier.
The 6-foot-5 point guard, who holds the all-time points record in Delaware high school girls' basketball history, was said to be interested in playing volleyball this fall with the Colonial Athletic Conference champions. But she will unable to play any varsity sport this year.
Auriemma, in an email to several newspapers Monday, said he would not grant Delle Donne a release from her national letter of intent.
Delle Donne, who abruptly left Connecticut's summer school within two days of her arrival in early June, did not mention any athletic aspirations in her statement.
"I have decided that in the best interest of both UCONN and myself that I will not play college basketball this year," she said.
" Both UCONN and I require a 100% dedication to the sport, and as of now I feel I cannot give that level of commitment. It therefore would be unfair to their excellent program, Coach Geno Auriemma, the team, and UCONN fans for me to play," she continued.
“Coach Auriemma and the team have been extremely understanding during this time of my transition from high school to college, and I thank them for that. I am especially grateful to Coach Auriemma whose kind wisdom has shown me why UCONN is such a class program.
“I intend to enroll at the University of Delaware for my freshman year this fall."
Delle Donne, having been pursued by a slew of colleges, ended the recruiting war between Connecticut and Tennessee for her talents last September, announcing she would become a member of the Huskies' talent-rich freshman class.
That group includes former Germantown Academy star Carolyn Doty, a former teammate at Fencor AAU who was set to be roommates with Delle Donne at UConn.
Villanova and Middle Tennessee, where her older brother Gene plays football, were also among Delle Donne's final choices.
Delle Donne could not transfer to the Wildcats to play basketball under a Big East guideline changed in recent years that states that once a letter of intent is signed, an incoming athlete cannot transfer to another conference member.
A Big East spokeswoman confirmed that rule Monday and said that if Delle Donne was granted the release she could play in another sport this season.
Delaware women's basketball coach Tina Martin was heading back from a vacation in Europe, Monday. However, after Connecticut announced Delle Donne's decision, Martin, citing NCAA guidelines Saturday night from overseas, said she would not be able to comment on the matter unless a release had been granted.
Contact staff writer Mel Greenberg at 215-854-5725 or mgreenberg@phillynews.com. Read his blog at go.philly.com/womhoops.
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