March 18, 2010

RedStorm women sign first recruit for 2010-11

Rio Grande --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm women's basketball program has signed its first recruit for the 2010-11 season. She is Chelsea Delong of Coal Grove Dawson-Bryant High School. 

Delong scored over 770 points in her high school career and pulled down nearly 500 rebounds. As a senior for the Lady Hornets, Delong led the team in both scoring and rebounding at 14.5 points and 8.3 rebounds. She was first team All-Ohio Valley Conference as a senior and made 2^nd team all-district. Delong was voted 3^rd team all-district by the Associated Press in 2009-10. 

At 5'11'' Delong is a post player with the ability to pull her opponent away from the basket with a good perimeter shot. She shot 30 percent from three-point land this past season. 

"My best assets are my post play and I can shoot," Delong said. "I need to work on my foot speed. I'm nervous but I'm excited."

"I need more competition," she added. "I need more of a push so I can get better."

Delong posted a strong junior campaign as well, averaging 12.7 points and six rebounds per game for a Coal Grove team that won 16 games. Those numbers earned her all-conference honors as well. In 2008-09 she led the Lady Hornets in field goal percentage (47.6 percent). 

"I am very happy, and also very excited (to be signing with Rio Grande)," Delong said. "I was just wanting to play basketball and wanting to go to school after high school." 

Rio Grande head coach David Smalley is pleased to be able to secure another recruit from Coal Grove. "We're excited to have Chelsea in the program, look forward to her learning our system, she comes from a great high school background, I think Coach (Nick) Miller down at Dawson-Bryant has done a tremendous job over the years," Smalley said. "We've had some of his players in the past and we always get quality kids from that area."

Smalley discussed Delong's best assets as a player and where he sees her fitting into the program. "We're looking at Chelsea to come in and learn our system, participate in the junior varsity program and I believe the sky is the limit for her in reference to her progression. She has a nice medium range jump shot, she's a strong, physical type of player that I think once she learns our system she'll fit in nicely."

Smalley also likes the versatility of Delong's game. "That's a big plus," Smalley said. "Her perimeter ability to shoot the ball is a plus and her size will allow her to play inside, too. With the style and league we're playing in, her diversity is a premium." 

Delong's goals for next season are simple - to get better and be in contention for a spot on the varsity team. "I want to get better all around," she said. "They have only one senior, so I'd like to play jayvee and be considered varsity by the end of my freshman year." 

Delong is currently undecided on a major, but left a hint as to possibly what it might be. "I'd like to stay in sports. I want to teach and coach," she said. 

Chelsea is the daughter of Mike Childers and Lori Delong of Ironton.

Rio Grande finished the 2009-10 campaign with a 16-15 overall record and went 7-7 in the Mid-South Conference.