Saint Mary's College of California has named Matthew Dellavedova, an Australian professional basketball player for the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, its 2020 Alumnus of the Year and will be honored at the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Awards in February.
The award is given to the alumni who have made a significant contribution to their professional field and/or has demonstrated consistent service to the college, exemplifying the spirit and dedication of a Saint Mary's College graduate. The 2009-10 Saint Mary's men's basketball team, which advanced to the Sweet 16, will also be inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame that night. Dellavedova was a member of this team.
The ceremony will take place Feb. 15 in the Soda Center at Saint Mary's College. There will also be an on-court ceremony following the event during the Saint Mary's-Pacific men's basketball game.
A graduate from the class of 2013, Dellavedova has used his NBA stardom to support several communities in need in Milwaukee, Cleveland and in his native Australia.
In 2017 while with the Milwaukee Bucks, Dellavedova started "Delly's Deer" reading program, which seeks to increase student interest in reading with middle and elementary school youth. Through this program, he and his wife Anna (also class of 2013) provided vision screening and reading glasses to children in need.
Now back in Cleveland, they continued the program and in 2019 through their Vision Day hosted 150 kids at University Settlement, an organization that helps families overcome poverty. Every child participating received a free vision screening, and if it was determined they needed glasses, they were able to meet with a doctor on-site to determine their prescriptions. With education being an important area of focus for Matthew and Anna, they continue their community outreach around literacy and vision in the Cleveland area, knowing an important part of reading is being able to see properly.
In September, Dellavedova released his first in a series of children's books titled, Daring Delly #1: Team Tryouts, where young readers can follow alongside a young version of Delly as he takes on the challenges, adventures, and fun of playing for his hometown team the Maryborough Blazers.
Beyond Dellavedova's literacy and vision work, he has participated in the Akron Children's Hospital's "A Prom to Remember" event, and spends time in the off-season with youth hoops clinic in both Australia and the states.
He has also partnered with his fellow Australian NBA players to fundraise for the fire relief effort to combat the fires currently ravaging Australia.
Following four years at Saint Mary's College, Dellavedova graduated with a degree in Psychology in 2013. During his Saint Mary's career, the Gaels made the NCAA tournament three times and in his freshman year, all the way to the Sweet 16. He finished his college career as Saint Mary's all-time leader in points, assists, games played, free throw percentage, and three pointers made and the 2012 West Coast Conference Player of the Year. Saint Mary's retired his No. 4 jersey in 2014, at the time the second ever retired by the program.
After going undrafted in 2013, Dellavedova joined the Cleveland Cavaliers for the NBA Summer League. A strong showing in the Summer League and then at the Cavs training camp earned him a place on their roster. Dellavedova continued his success in the NBA ending the 2015-16 season as an NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dellavedova was acquired by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2016 where he played for two-plus seasons before a mid-season trade took him back to the Cleveland.
He is a member of the Australian National Team, representing the Boomers in 2009 and 2011-14. This included the 2012 London Olympics and most recently he was a key member of the team at the World Cup in Spain and member of the 2016 Rio Olympic basketball team.
The award is given to the alumni who have made a significant contribution to their professional field and/or has demonstrated consistent service to the college, exemplifying the spirit and dedication of a Saint Mary's College graduate. The 2009-10 Saint Mary's men's basketball team, which advanced to the Sweet 16, will also be inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame that night. Dellavedova was a member of this team.
The ceremony will take place Feb. 15 in the Soda Center at Saint Mary's College. There will also be an on-court ceremony following the event during the Saint Mary's-Pacific men's basketball game.
A graduate from the class of 2013, Dellavedova has used his NBA stardom to support several communities in need in Milwaukee, Cleveland and in his native Australia.
In 2017 while with the Milwaukee Bucks, Dellavedova started "Delly's Deer" reading program, which seeks to increase student interest in reading with middle and elementary school youth. Through this program, he and his wife Anna (also class of 2013) provided vision screening and reading glasses to children in need.
Now back in Cleveland, they continued the program and in 2019 through their Vision Day hosted 150 kids at University Settlement, an organization that helps families overcome poverty. Every child participating received a free vision screening, and if it was determined they needed glasses, they were able to meet with a doctor on-site to determine their prescriptions. With education being an important area of focus for Matthew and Anna, they continue their community outreach around literacy and vision in the Cleveland area, knowing an important part of reading is being able to see properly.
In September, Dellavedova released his first in a series of children's books titled, Daring Delly #1: Team Tryouts, where young readers can follow alongside a young version of Delly as he takes on the challenges, adventures, and fun of playing for his hometown team the Maryborough Blazers.
Beyond Dellavedova's literacy and vision work, he has participated in the Akron Children's Hospital's "A Prom to Remember" event, and spends time in the off-season with youth hoops clinic in both Australia and the states.
He has also partnered with his fellow Australian NBA players to fundraise for the fire relief effort to combat the fires currently ravaging Australia.
Following four years at Saint Mary's College, Dellavedova graduated with a degree in Psychology in 2013. During his Saint Mary's career, the Gaels made the NCAA tournament three times and in his freshman year, all the way to the Sweet 16. He finished his college career as Saint Mary's all-time leader in points, assists, games played, free throw percentage, and three pointers made and the 2012 West Coast Conference Player of the Year. Saint Mary's retired his No. 4 jersey in 2014, at the time the second ever retired by the program.
After going undrafted in 2013, Dellavedova joined the Cleveland Cavaliers for the NBA Summer League. A strong showing in the Summer League and then at the Cavs training camp earned him a place on their roster. Dellavedova continued his success in the NBA ending the 2015-16 season as an NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dellavedova was acquired by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2016 where he played for two-plus seasons before a mid-season trade took him back to the Cleveland.
He is a member of the Australian National Team, representing the Boomers in 2009 and 2011-14. This included the 2012 London Olympics and most recently he was a key member of the team at the World Cup in Spain and member of the 2016 Rio Olympic basketball team.
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA