WALTHAM, Mass. - Brandeis University graduate student Steve DeLuca of Merrimack, N.H., has been named a first-team All-Northeast District selection by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) for the second time in his career, making him a finalist for All-America honors.
DeLuca, a forward, was an All-District selection as a junior. After missing his senior season to injury, DeLuca returned in 2008-09 to lead the Judges to an unprecedented third-straight NCAA Division III tournament berth. He topped the team in scoring (15.4 ppg) and rebounding (6.9 rpg) for the third time in his career. DeLuca, who was previously named to the All-University Athletic Association (UAA) first team for the third time in his career, finished sixth in the UAA in scoring and second in rebounding. He also finished fifth in the league in 3-point percentage, hitting 42 percent from beyond the arc (47-112), as the Judges led all of Division III in 3-point percentage at 44.8 percent.
DeLuca finished his career ranked fifth on Brandeis's all-time scoring list with 1,595 points. He also ranks among the Judges' top 10 in rebounds (673, 9th), blocked shots (51, 8th), steals (117th, T8th) and 3-pointers (134, 6th). He also moved to the top of the Judges' career lead in games started (105) and finished one game shy of tying two others in games played (106).
DeLuca led Brandeis to an 18-9 record this season, going 10-4 in the UAA to finish alone in second place. The Judges reached the NCAA Division III tournament for the third-straight season. They defeated the University of Scranton, 82-70, in the first round before falling to regional host and eventual Final Four qualifier Franklin and Marshall College, 65-63. Brandeis trailed that game by 20 points before getting within one point in the second half. DeLuca had a game-high 21 points in that contest, including 13 in the second half and 11 in the final nine minutes as the Judges nearly erased a 57-37 deficit. In addition to leading the nation in 3-point percentage, the Judges led the UAA in scoring defense (63.4 ppg), ranking 40th nationally.