Final Five. According to an article in today's Hartford Courant, the nation's most sought after Class of 2008 women's basketball prospect, Elena Delle Donne, announced that "She has narrowed her list (of schools) to UConn, Tennessee, Duke, Villanova and Maryland, and said the earliest she'll decide is the spring, because she wants to concentrate on playing."If you aren't already familiar with "EDD", well, she's a 6'4" Guard/Forward. Oh yes, with that height she can post up alright . . . but her quickness, shooting ability (even from 3-point land!), passing and court sense are such that (like Marissa Coleman) she could really play any position --- though the 3 is her preferred spot. A talent like EDD doesn't come along every day . . . or even every year . . . maybe only every few years. And, whatever team wins the EDD lottery will be in for quite a ride! (Here's hoping that team is MARYLAND!) Showing a great deal of class and maturity, Elena is communicating personally with the coaches of the schools she has ruled out. "Everyone deserved to know from me, not just someone else. I'm really thankful for them following me ever since I was in eighth grade. I felt like I owed it to them for making all the visits. The coaches that I'm really close to now, I will definitely call them."
A Little Perspective: The BasketCases came across an inspirational article some time back from the (Wilmington, DE) News Journal that appeared in March 2005 when Elena was a high school freshman. [Hanky Warning!] It reveals a great deal about the challenges that Elena and the Delle Donne family have had to face on account of Elena's much-treasured but severely disabled sister, Lizzie. The BasketCases hope to see Elena in a Terps uniform, but if she chooses another school (even the dreaded Duke) we will wish her well, and hope that she will be happy at whatever school she decides to attend.
Photo Credit: Hartford Courant
posted by BasketCases @ 5:38 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
It's amazing the Hartford Courant can run a story like this, and the Post and Sun hardly know she exists.
I fear that sort of media coverage (not just print, but broadcast as well) is the one thing standing between Maryland and Connecticut -- not just in recruiting this player, but in making this a sustainable, profitable program.
We don't disagree. Smaller media markets like Hartford that don't have major league professional teams in football, basketball, hockey and baseball...and that don't have several major men's college programs in the area as well, may be better positioned to focus attention on potential recruits and other matters of interest to a highly successful women's program. Being located outside the nation's capital can certainly be a plus in certain ways in the recruiting processs...but the amount of competition that exists here for sports media coverage can sometimes be a minus.
--BC
The good thing is that the media landscape is changing and this blog is a great example. Fewer and fewer people turn to their local newspaper or TV station for coverage. The internet has changed everything and traditional media knows it. Where do you start with critiquing the Washington Post? Since the new sports editor took over, they've steadily gone downhill.
FYI...I think you could do a neat little blog blurb on the new arrivals to the Comcast Center store- women's basketball jerseys!!! Youth and adult sizes, all five starters!!!!
Thanks so much for the comments!
Funny you should mention the new jerseys; we've been contemplating a blog on last minute holiday gifts for the b-ball fans on your list, and these new items would certainly have to be included!!
--BC
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