Matthew Dellavedora photo by Getty Images.

The 21-year-old is already ensconced as a Boomer, regarded as a star in US college basketball and is gearing up to take on the London Olympics.

Described as a fighter, hard competitor and unselfish player, Matthew Dellavedova has his fair share of admirers both here and in America. The 21-year-old is already ensconced as a Boomer, regarded as a star in US college basketball and is gearing up to take on the world at the London Olympics.

WHAT’S HIS STORY?

An early devotee to basketball thanks to his parents, Dellavedova grew up in Maryborough loving the game. The kid from country Victoria, who idolised star point guard Steve Nash, helped his state to the under-16 National Championships title in 2005. He spent nearly three years at the AIS before he had the opportunity to join St Mary’s College in California. This is the American college with the deep Australian connection – Boomer Patrick Mills is the school’s most famous Aussie alumni. Dellavedova wasted no time making his mark at St Mary’s, starting the first 15 games of his first season, and his numbers have steadily improved since then. The point guard has twice been named West Coast Conference Player of the Year and this season he led the Gaels in points (15.6) and assists (6.4) per game. His Australian representative honours have also continued – in 2009 he led the Australian team in scoring at the FIBA under-19 World Championships and in the same year received his first call-up to the Boomers. Dellavedova was just 19 years old.

Boomers head coach Brett Brown says it has been a rapid progression for the 193cm-tall guard: “He’s extremely passionate and keen to improve. He’s such a competitor. He’s developing an intellect in the point guard position.” Brown describes Dellavedova as a “throwback” to a bygone era of basketball. “He can take a hit, he likes confrontation on the court,” Brown says. “He’s not your finesse, flashy inner-city point guard. He’ll knock your head off.” Marty Clarke has coached Dellavedova at the AIS, with the under-19s and senior national teams. What stands out to Clarke is Dellavedova’s self-confidence and leadership skills. “He had it all at a young age,” Clarke says. “He’s mature beyond his years. Matt’s strengths are that he wants to win at all costs; he never gives up.”

Twice Dellavedova has helped St Mary’s reach the famed NCAA tournament during his three years there, but in 2012 the college’s run ended on a sour note. The number seven-seeded school was upset in its opening fixture against Purdue, chasing the game from the opening exchanges after falling behind early. St Mary’s scrambled to make it 69-68 with 40 seconds left, its first lead of the match, but was called for travelling trying to inbound the ball. Purdue sunk its foul shots to win 72-69. For Dellavedova, who finished the game with 12 points and eight assists, it was a disappointing way to end the season. “It was pretty frustrating because we didn’t play very well for 30 minutes and then we played well for ten minutes and still had a chance to win,” he says. “Obviously we were hoping to go deeper in the tournament, but it didn’t happen.”

WHO’S HE LIKE?

Dellavedova grew up admiring Australian stars Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal, along with Phoenix Suns point guard Nash. He possesses the skills to play both the shooting and point guard positions but prefers the one spot. “I played just point this year at college and really enjoyed it,” Dellavedova says. Brown agrees that point guard is his best position. “I like him with the ball, as Patty Mills’ backup,” Brown says. “They could play together with Matt as point guard. His most dangerous skill is when he has the ball.” Clarke believes Dellavedova has the ability to make his mark in London. “He’s a very skilled player and a very good team-mate; he’s very unselfish,” Clarke says. “He’s shown he can compete with the top point guards in Europe.”

Dellavedova has a bright future in front of him with the Olympics on the horizon, another season at St Mary’s to enjoy and then the possibility of the NBA draft in 2013. “It’s been a dream since I was a little kid to go to the Olympics,” he says. “There’s a lot of great players who are going to be playing for Australia.” The modest 21-year-old admits the NBA is his dream goal but knows he must improve his game to earn a shot: “Just try and get quicker, and just keep working as a shooter and create as a point guard.” Brown believes another year in the college system will serve him well, while Clarke feels that the NBA is always a “right time, right place” scenario. “Could he make it? I think he could,” Clarke says. “He’s a problem solver.”

What Do They Say?

*"There could be a place for him in the NBA. he needs to set his sights on that standard."

-Brett Brown,Boomers head coach and San Antonio Spurs assistant coach.

*"Matt's not just a very good player, he has areal hardness about him; it is this mental hardness that separates him from other players."

-Marty Clarke, Boomers assistant coach and Adelaide 36ers head coach.

‒ John Davidson