Delaney On Way Up

By: Luke Jackson

Towson Catholic graduate Malcolm Delaney didn't have much trouble adjusting from high school to college basketball.

The 6-foot-3, 170-pound guard was a second team All-Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament selection after he helped lead the Hokies to the semifinals, where his team lost to eventual tournament champion North Carolina, 66-64. Delaney posted 15 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Delaney recorded 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal in Virginia Tech's 63-49 quarterfinal win against Miami, 63-49.

He came to the Hokies after a spectacular high school career with the Owls. Delaney led Towson Catholic to Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference and Baltimore Catholic League championships. The Owls went undefeated in both leagues and had a 32-5 overall mark during his senior year.

Delaney averaged 19.5 points, 4.5 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 steals for Towson Catholic head coach Josh Pratt, who coached him in his junior and senior years. He finished up his senior year by playing for the U.S. team at the 34th Capital Classic at Comcast Center in College Park.

"He's just very self-motivated," Pratt said. "He just loves to work, to lift, to work out."

Pratt should know all about Delaney's work ethic – after all, the two did combine for a 59-15 record in their two years together. The coach watched Delaney finish his high school career with over 2,100 points scored.

"It was a pleasure to coach him," said Pratt. "He made it easy to coach because he had the ball in his hands so much. [He was a] very talented player [and] very coachable."

Delaney played in 35 games with Virginia Tech in his freshman year. He averaged 27.3 minutes, 9.6 points, three assists and 2.9 rebounds per game. He shot 42 percent from the field and 79 percent from the line.

"I expect him to be one of the top players in the ACC," said Pratt. "I think he can be a very successful college player. He could be a first or second team All-ACC if he does what he's supposed to do. He can't rest on his laurels. He has to continue to work."

Delaney watched his former Towson Catholic teammate and fellow 2007 graduate Donte Greene get drafted into the National Basketball Association after just one year with Syracuse.

So does Delaney have what it takes to join Greene in the NBA?

"By the time he's a junior or senior, I think people [in the NBA] are going to look at him," said Pratt. "I think he has NBA potential."