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Elena Delle Donne was all smiles and sporting a fine tan during her meeting with the media this afternoon. She expressed being burnt out by the game of basketball and great pleasure with her decision to play volleyball at Delaware. Here are a few of the high points from the event that lasted about 30 minutes.

Elena came to UConn June 1 dreaming of winning four national championships. But her father, Ernie, said she left in the middle of the night Monday, June 2. A friend had come from Delaware to pick her up and bring her home. Ernie said he was shocked when Elena walked in the house at about 7:15 a.m. June 3.

“It was shocking because at first you might think it’s a stage,’’ Ernie said. “Bu then when she tells you, `I don’t want to play basketball any more’ the first thing you say is, `well, what would you like to do?’ And she had thought it out. She’s a very smart young lady and has a great head on her shoulders. What made us feel somewhat better is she explained us, `You all never burnt me out. I was driven to be as good as I could be.’ Ever since Elena was 8-, 9-, 10-years-old she set up her work out schedule, her own regimen. And she was driven to be as good as she could be.’’

Elena said she has been feeling burnt out since she was 15 or 16. She said she saw the workouts at UConn and knew right away that she would not be able to drum up the effort to mirror that of her teammates.

“In the back of my head there were always questions, but when I went there I went there with the full intention of playing,’’ Elena said. “And then once I got there I realized I wouldn’t be able to give them a 100 percent commitment. I just saw workouts and I saw what we were going to have to put forth every day and I knew I couldn’t give that.’’

Elena and Delaware volleyball coach Bonnie Kenny repeatedly heaved heavy compliments toward Geno and the players.

“I think it showed a lot of class with how they handled this in granting Elena the release to do something that she wants to do,’’ Kenny said. “And the entire UConn family has, obviously, handled this as professional and as well as they can and obviously we’re the beneficiary of Elena making this decision. I applaud her for being mature enough, brave enough to come to the conclusion that this is where she wants to be and this is what she wants to do. Obviously, everybody in the world thought she was going to play basketball. But how fortunate we are where she is now. We are extremely aware that we have an elite student-athlete in our gym. She’s immediately made our program better. We’ve embraced her. She’s embraced us.’’

Elena would not say that she would never play basketball again.

“If I was going to play basketball, I would be at UConn,” Elena said. “To avoid continuous questions about basketball, it would be ridiculous for me to say never. I am 18-years-old so never would be an eternity. Basketball is not part of my life right now. I am at ease with my decision to be at the University of Delaware. It’s incredible. I’ve been all smiles since I’ve been here and I hope it continues that way.’’

Elena is a non-scholarship athlete at Delaware and will major in early childhood education. She competed in her first volleyball practice last Friday.

Geno, his wife Kathy and Ernie and Joanie Delle Donne had dinner several times this summer at the Jersey Shore to discuss the situation. Geno and Elena met a few days after watching the the Opening Ceremonies in Beijing at his beach house Aug. 8. It was then when she told him that her heart was not in it any longer.

Ernie said the honest comments made by Kalana Greene this summer had absolutely no bearing on Elena’s final decision. In fact, she didn’t even see them. He also said that he would have actually said things that were much worse if he were Kalana.

“Somebody made mention of Kalana Greene’s comments,’’ Ernie said. “Elena wasn’t even aware of them. She doesn’t read that junk. And my comment to Kalana’s comments was I would have said 50 times worse. I’m in an incoming senior. I have a blown out knee and people are asking me about this incoming freshman who’s not even here? I would have been so annoyed I would have snapped at the reporter. And Kalana was such a sweetheart when we got there. She was looking after Elena like a little sister. They are terrific and I hope they won the national championship. I hate to root against the University of Delaware, but I want UConn to win championship after championship after championship more so now then ever.’’

It was an interesting day in Newark.

Rich

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The Delaware Department of Athletics will hold a press conference Monday at 1:30 p.m. to officially introduce Delle Donne. Blue Hens head volleyball coach Bonnie Kenny, athletic director Edgar Johnson, Delaware Director of NCAA Compliance Kerri Cebula and members of the team will be available for comment during the event that will span approximately 30 minutes.
Delaware women’s basketball head coach Tina Martin will not be available for comment. She, however, will issue a statement.
Delle Donne, who was on campus at UConn for two days this summer before leaving June 3, can play any sport at Delaware because she received a complete release Wednesday. In order to play basketball this season, Delaware will have to seek a waiver from the NCAA.

Rich

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The final chapter of the Elena Delle Donne saga is now complete.
UConn received a waiver request from Delle Donne Wednesday. The signed request was, in turn, faxed back to the National Letter of Intent organization within a few hours granting a complete release, with the condition that Delle Donne enrolls at the University of Delaware.
Should Delle Donne enroll at another school she would again have to request to be released from her scholarship to UConn. She said in statement Monday that her intention is to enroll at Delaware for the fall semester.
The release allows Delle Donne, who informed Auriemma last week that she had decided not to enroll at UConn, is immediately eligible to play any sport at Delaware, including basketball.
However, if she wants to play basketball this season, Delle Donne and Delaware will need to seek additional clearance with the NCAA, per NCAA regulations regarding transfers.
A complete release also dictates that Delle Donne will retain four years of basketball eligibility.

Rich

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It may have taken much longer than both Geno Auriemma and Jim Calhoun would have liked, but the plans for a practice facility are in the works.

Here’s the press release sent out by UConn today:

The University of Connecticut Division of Athletics has hired HOK Sport, Inc. of Kansas City to coordinate architectural and design services for a new men’s and women’s basketball practice facility. HOK will also be developing plans for the proposed relocation of Joseph J. Morrone Stadium, the home of UConn men’s and women’s soccer.

HOK’s work will include the design of a basketball facility, which will include practice space for both the Husky men’s and women’s teams, along with areas such as academic support, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, video services and coaches offices.

Included in the scoping and programming services performed by HOK will be a detailed plan of potential locations for the facility along with anticipated project costs. In addition, HOK will produce renderings to be utilized for University fundraising purposes.

As HOK begins this work, more than $5 million has been committed from interested donors and friends of the University for the project.

HOK Sport, based in Kansas City, Mo., is an internationally renowned sports facility design firm. The company’s client list is diverse and comprehensive, and includes 24 Major League Baseball franchises, 30 NFL franchises and 120 colleges and universities.

“After a lengthy, comprehensive selection process, we are pleased to partner with HOK Sport on this critical initiative,” says Director of Athletics Jeffrey A. Hathaway. “HOK has extensive experience in the design of similar basketball facilities and has performed outstanding work for the University on past projects. Together, we will undertake a planning process which will result in greater opportunities for the student-athletes, coaches and support staff within our basketball programs. This will assist in enhancing the outstanding success which is associated with our UConn basketball programs under the direction of our Hall of Fame coaches Geno Auriemma and Jim Calhoun. This project is the Division’s top priority within our capital improvement master plan. For this facility to become a reality, we look forward to the ongoing and active participation of the entire UConn family, including coaches, staff, donors and other friends of the University.”

HOK will also be providing scoping and programming services for Joseph J. Morrone Stadium. The firm will focus on the proposed relocation of Morrone Stadium to the existing Memorial Stadium site.

“Our men’s and women’s soccer teams, under the leadership of Ray Reid and Len Tsantiris, are both elite national programs,” says Hathaway. “This project will be an important step in enhancing the success that both of our programs have enjoyed over the years. UConn has always been a national leader in soccer, and we will work closely with HOK to create an outstanding venue for our student-athletes, coaches and fans. Once again, we look forward to the participation of our coaches, staff and outstanding soccer supporters as we initiate the process.”

The planning process with HOK Sport will result in projected timelines for the completion of the various phases of these projects.

Rich

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The final chapter of the Elena Delle Donne saga is nearly complete. She has asked to be released from her scholarship to UConn. Coach Geno Auriemma has given his blessing on the matter and the release is currently being processed at the administrative level. There is no timetable as to when the process will be complete.
Once Delle Donne is officially granted her release she will be eligible to play any sport this year at the University of Delaware, with the exception of basketball. Due to NCAA rules, she must still wait one year before playing basketball, a sport she dominated at the high school level.
Until Delle Donne is released from her scholarship she cannot participate in collegiate athletics of any kind for one year.

Rich

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Sophomore Maya Moore, senior Renee Montgomery and junior Tina Charles have been named to the 25-player 2008-09 Wade Watch List for the State Farm Wade Trophy Division I Player of the Year, the WBCA announced Tuesday. None of the other 17 teams represented had more than two players honored.
Louisville senior Angel McCoughtry and the Rutgers duo of Epiphanny Prince and Kia Vaughn was also named.
The Big East has eight players on the list, the most of any conference in the country, The Atlantic Coast Conference is second with six, followed by the Pac-10 (4), the Big 12 (3), the Big Ten (2) and the Southeastern Conference (2).
The 2009 Wade Trophy winner will be announced at the WBCA National Convention, which will be held in conjunction with the Final Four in St. Louis, Mo. April 3-7.

Rich

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Elena Delle Donne is among the most high profile players ever to play high school basketball. She was named the 2008 Naismith and WBCA Player of the Year and was recognized as the top player in the Class of 2008.
Delle Donne, a 6-foot-5 guard from Wilmington, Del, was projected as a major player in UConn’s drive toward a sixth national championship this season. But less than 48 hours after UConn coach Geno Auriemma issued a statement that she will not enroll at UConn, Delle Donne issued a statement today saying that she will not play college basketball at all this season.
Instead, Delle Donne said she intends to enroll at the University of Delaware this fall.
“I have decided that in the best interest of both UConn and myself that I will not play college basketball this year,’’ Delle Donne said in a statement. “Both UConn and I require a 100 percent dedication to the sport, and as of now I feel I can not give that level of commitment. It therefore would be unfair to the excellent program, Coach Geno Auriemma, the team, and UConn fans for me to play.’’
Delle Donne, who signed a binding National Letter of Intent last November, spent just two days on the UConn campus this summer before abruptly returning home June 3. At the time, she cited that she needed to take a personal break.
The statement provided her first public comments since her departure.
“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,’’ Delle Donne said. “I am especially grateful to Coach Auriemma whose kind wisdom has shown me why UConn is such a class program.’’
There is speculation that Delle Donne will attempt to join the Delaware volleyball program this season. However, she must first be released from her scholarship at UConn in order to compete for the Blue Hens. Also, Delaware coach Bonnie Kenny said Monday that she has yet to speak with Delle Donne.
Sources said today that Delle Donne has yet to ask to be released from her scholarship. And Auriemma said in an e-mail to the Connecticut Post today that there is “no timetable’’ for her release.
Until she is released from her scholarship Delle Donne cannot participate in collegiate athletics for one school year at another school that recognizes the letter-of-intent system. If she is released from her scholarship she could then take advantage of a one-transfer exemption that would permit her to immediately participate in any sport – with the exception of basketball – at a Division I school.
Ultimately, there are two forms of release – partial and complete. A partial release from a scholarship would leave Delle Donne with just three years of eligibility should she play basketball after sitting out one year. A complete release voids the National Letter of Intent and would give Delle Donne four years of eligibility.
UConn granted Kia Wright a complete release from her scholarship after she left the team during the summer of 2003 after spending roughly two weeks on campus before leaving. She completed her four-year career at St. John’s this past season.

Rich

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Here’s the public statement issued by Elena Delle Donne today regarding her decision not to enroll at UConn

“I have decided that in the best interest of both UConn and myself that I will not play college basketball this year. Both UConn and I require a 100% dedication to the sport, and as of now I feel I can not give that level of commitment. It therefore would be unfair to the excellent program, Coach Geno Auriemma, the team, and UConn fans for me to play.

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.”

Elena DelleDonne