May 19, 2007 • Colorado Springs, Colorado

The youngest female player to reach 2,000 points in Delaware state history, Elena Delle Donne is a 6-5 guard with a year of high school remaining and virtually every college coach in the country calling. This weekend, however, Delle Donne is in Colorado Springs, Colo., competing among 36 of the country's best
19-and-unders at the USA Junior National Team Trials for a spot on the 2007 USA U19 World Championship Team.

In 2006, Delle Donne missed the chance at a roster spot on the gold medal winning 2006 USA U18 National Team because of a previous injury. While she says it was tough to sit out, attending trials as an observer may have given her crucial experience. While not technically the youngest player attending trials this weekend, Delle Donne is the only athlete who won't be competing in the college ranks in 2007-08 as 15 athletes will be college sophomores and one will be a college freshman.

But the lanky shooter says she isn't here to be intimidated, and she has the statistics to back her confidence. As a junior in 2006-07, her fourth varsity season at Ursuline Academy (Del.), she averaged 28.0 ppg., 11.0 rpg., 3.0 apg., 2.0 spg. and 3.0 bpg. and was selected to the 2007 Parade Magazine and EA Sports All-America first teams.

USABasketball.com caught up with Delle Donne, and she told us about family life, college choices and elite basketball.

How have trials gone so far?
I think so far so good. I'm trying to stay a team player and not really go outside of my game and try to be real fancy. You know, I'm not trying to take over the game. I think it's more important to play as a good teammate, to set some screens and let my shot go when I'm open.

Is it shooting that you consider your strength?
Yeah. I'm trying to really show my shooting ability because I feel as if the international game is really about shooting well. I think that on the USA team they're going to want some shooters and rebounding, so I'm crashing the boards too.

Has there been a time where you felt frustrated?
Not really. I haven't really gotten down on myself yet. I really want to help my teammates stay up, so I can't have people seeing me down on myself.

How did you determine what you think the selection committee will be looking for?
I talked it over with my parents, and I talked it over with some of the college coaches that are recruiting me. They told me what they would be looking for as a coach, so I assume, with basketball knowledge, they would all be looking for the same types of things.

Last year you came to the U18 National Team Trials, but you were injured and had to sit out. What was that like?
That was probably the most frustrating three days of my life, just sitting there, knowing I couldn't get out there and play. Being injured was just holding me back. I guess it was good to watch and see what I'd be doing this year. It definitely helped me to become familiar with drills and what they're looking for. I got to listen to the speeches about Olympians and what it takes to be an Olympian. And seeing top notch basketball and learning what it takes definitely helped me this past high school and AAU season.

You are competing against girls with college experience. Can you tell me about that?
This is just such amazing preparation, and it's going to help me so much when I go back and play next year in high school and especially AAU. It's great to play against this level of play. I was really looking forward to seeing how I stacked up against top notch players and players with college experience.

What is the high school experience like for you as an elite player?
It's basically being a leader to some of the younger girls and trying to teach them what it takes to be a Division I player and how to take their game to the next level. I just like to lead by example with my teammates, and also, it's really important that I just stay a team player with them.

You haven't made a verbal commitment to any college, where are you considering?
Right now I'm basically considering Tennessee, UConn, Maryland, Villanova and Middle Tennessee where my brother plays football. I'll eventually narrow it down a little more I think.

How did you narrow down your choices?
Some of it was distance, a lot of it was how I fit in with the players that are going there and then coaches, really being comfortable with them. I'm a huge family person, too. I think that may be why I'm waiting a while to verbal, because I want to make sure my family will be able to come to stay a big part of my life.

How about all the coaching changes recently?
Oh, I know. I'm so glad I didn't verbal yet, because like Duke with Coach G leaving--that was crazy. I'm probably still going to look at Texas because I think she's a tremendous coach. But I'm really happy I haven't verballed.

I want to ask you about your handicapped sister, because it's something you're very vocal with the media about.
Yeah, I am. My sister is deaf, and she's blind. She was born that way, and she has cerebral palsy. She just turned 23. I like people to know the struggles that are out there in the world, and that basketball is just a game. I mean, don't take the sport lightly, but it is only a sport and remember to just have fun with it. I'm vocal about it because it just gives perspective to the game.