Delaney stepping up his game

Malcolm Delaney has been one of the most consistent guards on the Nike circuit this July. He shined at the All-America camp and followed up his stellar play with a good showing at the Peach Jam.

The 6-foot-3, 170-pound guard from Towson Catholic High School in Baltimore, Md., is playing with a confidence and playing like a guy on a mission.

"I've been playing really well. This has been the best I've played. I'm having a good time," Delaney said. "I feel like I'm getting better every time I play. In the last tournament, my shooting was better and I'm a lot stronger than I was before. That's helping me, too."

Delaney was one of the top guards at the Nike All-America camp as well. His play in the spring was good but this summer it has made basketball observers stop and watch a little longer than before.

"I think I was just relaxed before," Delaney said. "I usually play like (the way he has played in July) but I think I got to a point where I was respecting too many players. I had to play my game. I started working out more and working with a trainer and now I feel so much more comfortable."

His recruitment is making the transition from interest to offers. Delaney said he is holding offers from Clemson, Iowa State and Virginia Tech and interest from Indiana while Memphis just joined the race and showing significant interest.

Delaney has unofficially visited Maryland, Virginia, Wake Forest and NC State. However, he says he is no longer considering those programs because of the lack of interest, or a lack of an offer, on the schools' part.

"Even if a school were to come on late, I want to make sure they are worth talking to. If they offer me a scholarship, I think I'll probably keep talking to them," Delaney said. "It's getting kind of late in the process so I want to see who is serious. Some schools just do a lot of talking but haven't offered. I want to look at those schools that are serious about me."

Schools are getting serious. Head coaches from each of the schools that have offered him watched him closely in Augusta last week. That will certainly be the case this weekend in Orlando at the Super Showcase, his final event of the summer. With serious interest from the high-majors, Delaney said he is still looking at things with an open mind.

"I want to finish up the summer first. There is no leader right now. I haven't seen the campuses yet. I want to do that before I pick a school I like," he said.

"I'll probably trim it down in August. I'd like to get it done before the season starts and maybe right when schools starts. If I do that, I can just focus on my grades and not have to worry about anything else. I do want to take my official visits. That is going to help me be comfortable with my decision."