Elena DelleDonne seems to have recovered quickly from her case of severe basketball burnout.

A sources at the NCAA Division I women’s Final Four says DelleDonne, the nation’s top-rated recruit who withdrew from Connecticut and transferred to the University of Delaware last summer, citing burnout and disenchantment with basketball, appears ready to join the Blue Hens basketball program for 2009-2010. DelleDonne, a Delaware native, played volleyball for the Blue Hens as a freshman walk-on last winter, but her name is conspicuously absent from the Blue Hens’ 2009 volleyball roster.

DelleDonne’s presence would transform the Blue hens basketball team into an immediate CAA contender. Smooth and athletic, she is the most prolific female scorer in Delaware prep history: more than 2,800 points during a star-spangled career ar Ursuline Academy.

Blue Hens volleyball coach Bonnie Kenny understood from the outset that such a change of heart was possible—indeed, likely. Kenny said this while speaking at the August press conference called to announce the addition of DelleDonne to the volleyball team’s roster:
“...if that itch ever comes back to Elena, I will support her 100%.  I understand that, I understand what we are handling here.  It’s okay.  But I know when she’s in our gym and she’s training, she’s happy.  That’s all I care about.  If I train her for two years and she gets really good and she gets the itch and wants to go back to UConn to play basketball, I will support her.  If she decides to play basketball at the University of Delaware, I will support her.  You have one chance to live your life as a college student-athlete.”

Two things trouble me aboout this scenario. DelleDonne, speaking at the same press conference, said she chose to discard her UConn grant-in-aid because “I just saw what we were going to have to put forth everyday. I knew I couldn’t give 100 percent.” I can’t help wondering: What has changed? Does she believe she will be happy at Delaware because she perceives Blue Hens coach Tina Martin to be less acerbic and less demanding than Huskies coach Geno Auriemma? (I’ve watched both individuals on the sidelines; Martin isn’t). Does DelleDonne believe that because this is the CAA, she can prosper without making a hundred-percent commitment? I hope not. Such a mindset would insult every opponent, coach and fan in the league. 

DelleDonne said to be ready to join Blue Hens basketball program