Lehigh University Athletics
DePalo's in the right place
1/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Morning Call staff writer
Jessica DePalo appeared suited to be more than just a student-athlete before coming to Lehigh on a basketball scholarship four years ago.
Lehigh coach Sue Troyan found that out on a recruiting trip to DePalo's hometown of
''Usually, I spend 2-3 hours on a home visit,'' Troyan said. ''I spent 10 hours in her house. I'm not kidding you. I started at 3 and I left at 11 o'clock, and I was like, 'What on earth?' And I met half the town. They were coming to her house meeting me.''
DePalo was the star player for Red Bank High where she was named first-team all-state by the Newark Star-Ledger and Associated Press in 2000 and 2001, but she was also popular because of her community service activities that included tutoring and mentoring kids.
But when she started classes at Lehigh in the fall of 2001, she had to adjust to a new playing level, a new environment and new responsibilities. DePalo didn't do any of those things as quickly as expected, but she has turned up the level of her play and involvement in student-related issues at school and on the national level over the last two years.
DePalo led the Patriot League in scoring at 21.3 points per game last season and the 18.8 points she's averaging entering the Mountain Hawks' game at 7 tonight at Army is also tops in the league. She's averaging 4.9 rebounds and leads the Hawks in blocked shots with 23.
''It's my teammates,'' DePalo said. ''They are the ones that have to get the ball over the court. They are the ones that have the ball in their hands. I have the easy job. They get me the ball in places that I can score. It would be my fault if I didn't.''
DePalo was all-league last season and considered a top candidate for player of the year this season, but she doesn't need any postseason honors to define what she's meant to Lehigh.
The last two years, she has been the Patriot League student representative to the NCAA Student Advisory Committee and co-chair of Lehigh's community outreach program. She's logged more miles than the average athlete because of her many involvements, yet she still maintains a 3.5 grade point average and still shows up full of energy for practices and games.
''[Three] weeks ago, we played our game against American on a Saturday, she flew out Sunday morning for a day-and-a-half [to Dallas] as a representative for the students athletes on the executive council national committee, and then came back Monday afternoon for practice,'' Troyan said.
The traveling is something DePalo has enjoyed as much as working hard for inside buckets or pulling down rebounds in helping the Hawks (13-5) get off to 5-0 start in league play. A win over Army (10-8, 3-2 Patriot) will mark the Hawks' best start ever in the league.
''I've been a lot of places,'' DePalo said. ''I was just in
''The good thing is that sometimes they are very nice places, but if you think you are going to be relaxing it's not like that. It's a lot of work and it's a lot of fun. It's truly a blessing that I've had an opportunity.''
The 6-0 DePalo, who's majoring in marketing, is now just as popular at Lehigh as she was at Red Bank.
''Now I joke around with her like, 'Now you're like the mayor of Lehigh. Everyone knows you, everyone in the athletic department,' '' Troyan said. ''She goes through the athletic department giving people hugs and kisses, so she's grown into a larger version of what she was in high school.
''She so charismatic. She's such a caring, giving kid. She just gives so much of herself to other people. She is just as special a kid as you could ever coach. She is just a leader way beyond our program and beyond the university.''
Troyan has already made room for DePalo on her staff next season as a graduate assistant coach, something DePalo asked about as a senior at Red Bank. Her aspiration is to become a head coach.
''I kind of joke around with her that she's going to have my job someday, probably sooner than later if she keeps up at it,'' Troyan said.
The thing DePalo wants most is to help Lehigh win its first Patriot League tournament title since 1997 and return to the NCAA Tournament. The Hawks lost in the quarterfinals her first two seasons and were defeated 71-58 by American in the semifinals last year.
DePalo is leading the way, but the Hawks are also four wins shy of posting the most wins in Troyan's 10 seasons because of the solid play of sophomore guard Sara Ellis (15.6 ppg, 3.4 apg, 3.2 rpg) and senior guard Mary Hynoski (7.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.7 apg). Jenny Callan, Adrienne Blount and Carli Toliver have also been major contributors.
But it all starts with DePalo, whose passion for the game was so strong growing up that she used to wake up her father, Dominick, at 5 a.m. to go out and shoot baskets with her in their backyard before he headed off to work.
Now her father, mother Leslie and occasionally her younger sisters Bethany, Mia and Gabrielle can sit in Stabler Arena or in away gymnasiums and marvel at the player and person DePalo has become.
DePalo said she's confident Lehigh will make it to the NCAA's, but she added that her career won't be considered unfulfilled if they don't because of all she's already accomplished.
''I'm living my dream right now and pretty soon that dream is about to end as far as playing Division I basketball,'' DePalo said. ''To me, it doesn't get better than that, to be a student-athlete, to have no other responsibility than to get good grades. Basketball is a huge responsibility. Since I was a little girl this is what I wanted to do and Lehigh has given me my dream.''
Story originally appeared on Thursday, January 27, 2005 edition of The Morning Call. Used with permission.
