Delle Donne will not enroll at Connecticut

Aug 17, 2008 - 1:40 AM STORRS, Connecticut (Ticker) -- Elena Delle Donne, one of the most highly touted women's basketball recruits in years, will not enroll at the University of Connecticut in the fall.

UConn coach Geno Auriemma, who has led the school to five national championships, issued a brief statement released through the school Saturday confirming that Delle Donne will not be part of his program.

"I have been recently informed that Elena Delle Donne has decided not to play college basketball and will not enroll at the University of Connecticut," Auriemma said in the statement. "Everyone at UConn would like to wish Elena the best of luck."

The national high school player of the year, Delle Donne left UConn in June after spending just two days in summer school. At the time, she said she needed to take a break for "personal reasons."

At that time, Auriemma said he expected Delle Donne to return for the fall semester.

Delle Donne is the all-time leading scorer in Delaware high school history with 2,818 points while starring for Ursuline Academy in Wilmington.

The object of a fierce recruiting battle that UConn won over arch-rival Tennessee, Delle Donne averaged 31.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals as a senior and was named the Naismith and Women's Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year.

The school also announced that Auriemma will have no further comment on the matter.

"In an effort to respect the privacy of Elena and the Delle Donne family, this will be the final statement regarding this situation by the University of Connecticut," the statement read.