ST Mary’s Gaels coach Randy Bennett has compared Matthew Dellavedova to one of the NBA’s premier point guards.
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Maryborough-raised Dellavedova started his fourth US college basketball season under Bennett this week when the Gaels thrashed Sonoma State 95-69.
Leading into the game, Bennett said Dellavedova’s stellar career with the Gaels put him in the same class as two-time NBA most valuable player Steve Nash.
“Of players that have been in this league, he reminds me of (Steve) Nash,” Bennett told smcgaels.com.
“That’s a tough comparison, because Nash has gone on to be what he is. In college, I saw Nash all four years and they’re pretty similar.
“The numbers are similar, their game is similar, their size is similar, their leadership and impact on winning is similar.”
Dellavedova, who scored 20 points and dished out five assists in the season-opening win over Sonoma State, will finish his college career this season as one of the Gaels’ most decorated players.
He’s already handed out more assists than any other player in school history and he’s likely to break the most points in school history record by season’s end.
Last year he was named the West Conference Player of the Year and earned selection in the Academic All-American team.
According to Bennett, what Dellavedova does for the Gaels can’t be measured by just points and assists.
Bennett is adamant Dellavedova should be rated in the premier points guards in college basketball.
“He would be considered one of those guys if he scored 20 a game, but there’s somebody else getting 12 or 13 a game because of what he’s doing,” Bennett said.
“There’s somebody else that feels a little more confident, there’s somebody else that’s winning some more games for us because of what he’s doing for us.
“Those things are hard to measure.”