File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

NEWARK, Del. – Elena Delle Donne (at right), who closed out an outstanding high school basketball career Ursuline Academy and began a promising one in collegiate volleyball at the University of Delaware during the year, was honored with the 2008 Delaware Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association (DSBA) John J. Brady Award as the state of Delaware Athlete of the Year during the organization’s 60th annual banquet Sunday evening at Cavaliers Country Club.

Delle Donne, a 2008 graduate of Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Del. and currently a freshman early childhood education major at Delaware, was one of several athletes, coaches, and teams honored as part of the banquet.

In addition to Delle Donne, also honored were members of the 2008 Delaware All-State high school teams in the sports of football, soccer, cross country, volleyball, and field hockey; Tatnall cross country head coach Pat Castagno and Salesianum School boy’s soccer coach Scott Mosier shared the Tubby Raymond Coach of the Year Award; the Milford High School football team was presented with the Team of the Year Award; and longtime downstate high school coach and athletics administrator Ben Sirman was presented the Herm Reitzes Award for lifetime service to sports.

Delle Donne is the 12th University of Delaware athlete, and just the second female, to be honored with the Brady Award, joining Bob Trivits (football) in 1954, Al Neiger (baseball) in 1959, Mike Brown (track & football) in 1963, Herb Slattery (football) in 1966, Dick Kelley (football) in 1969, Steve Taylor (baseball) in 1977, Bill Vergantino (football) in 1992, Daryl Brown (football) in 1994, Kevin Mench (baseball) and Eddie Conti (football) in 1998, and Tyresa Smith (basketball) in 2007.

She is only the sixth athlete, and first female, to be recognized for her high school accomplishments and the first since John Thropp was honored for his exploits in swimming at Salesianum School in 1958.

Delle Donne became an instant hit for the Blue Hen volleyball program this fall for head coach Bonnie Kenny. She led the Blue Hens to a record of 19-16 and a second straight Colonial Athletic Association title this fall. Delaware advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year before falling to No. 7 ranked Oregon in the opening round.

She appeared in 34 matches this season and led the team in blocks with .96 per game, ranked second on the team with a .223 hitting percentage, and was fifth in kills with 1.93 per game. She was a three-time CAA Rookie of the Week and earned a spot on the CAA All-Rookie team.

Delle Donne was a five-year varsity standout at Ursuline Academy and led the team to four state titles, including one during the 2007-08 campaign. She was one of the most prolific high school student-athletes in state history and finished her career as the all-time leading scorer in girls’ basketball with 2,818 points.

She was a five-time All-State selection and was named the 2007-08 National Player of the Year by the Naismith, McDonald’s, and Gatorade foundations. She also played one season of volleyball at Ursuline and led the team to the 2007 state title.

After initially committing to the University of Connecticut to play basketball, Delle Donne decided to change schools and sports and transferred to the University of Delaware in August where she joined the volleyball team.

Other past DSBA award winners with ties to the University of Delaware are the men’s lacrosse team (2007 Team of the Year) and football team (2003 Team of the Year), former football head coach Tubby Raymond (2000 Coach of the Year), former men’s basketball and golf head coach and football assistant coach Irv Wisniewski (2006 Reitzes Award), former volleyball head coach Barb Viera (2003 Reitzes Award), former radio announcer Bill Pheiffer (1995 Reitzes Award), former director of athletics and football head coach Dave Nelson (1993 Reitzes Award), former trustee and benefactor Bob Carpenter (1992 Reitzes Award), former golf head coach, basketball, football, and baseball assistant coach, and athletic administrator Scotty Duncan (1992 Reitzes Award), and former radio announcer Bob Kelley (1988 Reitzes Award).