This is a great day for the Wright family and for Delon. It’s been kind of a bumpy road, a hard road for him, but he’s here. He did it. I’m proud. I’m really proud,” he said. “This is a dream come true. – Ray Wright, Delon Wright's father
SALT LAKE CITY — Delon Wright walked the walk Friday morning in the Huntsman Center. The All-American guard and Bob Cousy Award winner received his degree in sociology at The University of Utah commencement.
“It’s a special day. I never knew how special it was until the day actually came,” said Wright, who added that it was fun to have his family there and see everyone so excited.
Wright, who led the Utes to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 this season, said he was proud to be a graduate. However, he is also honestly glad to be done with doing the work, going to class and all that stuff.
“But I’m glad I made it through and I can move on,” Wright said.
After a stellar high school career in Los Angeles, Wright wound up at the City College of San Francisco. Two years later, he transferred to Utah.
“My academic advisors, they helped me get through it,” Wright said. “They felt like I could knock out my classes ahead of time and I wouldn’t have to come back. So I knocked it out and I’m ready to go.”
Although Wright contemplated entering the NBA draft a year ago, he opted to put it on hold and stay in school.
“I’m glad I came back. I couldn’t have scripted out as good of a season, as good a year. A lot of things happened,” Wright said. “So I’m just ready to move on to the next thing in life.”
Wright is back in L.A. these days working out with other NBA draft hopefuls like Darrun Hilliard from Villanova and Olivier Hanlan from Boston College.
“We’re all just getting prepared for the draft and working hard,” said Wright, who is heading to Chicago next week for the NBA combine and then will set up workouts for teams.
The projected first-round pick noted that the Utah Jazz was not likely to be one of his destinations. Wright said that some potential destinations were targeted but declined to say where.
Graduating, though, was foremost on his mind as many Utah student-athletes gathered for photos and to converse outside the arena. Wright acknowledged that it was tough at times to juggle both academics and basketball. He expressed appreciation for his mentors for helping him get both things done.
“It’s a heckuva cool story,” said Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak. “I think he’s a smart kid and you want to help advise people to make what you consider to be good decisions. They’re not always foolproof. You deal on probabilities.”
As for Wright’s decision to come back and finish school, Krystkowiak noted that things played out well — on the court and in the classroom.
“It’s one of those deals where you go ‘I’m really glad for him,’” Krystkowiak said.
“(Graduating) was something he really wanted to do.”
Krystkowiak explained that Wright fast-tracked his academics so that he could earn his degree when his eligibility expired. Wright became a favorite with the academic folks on campus because he always tried hard even though things haven’t always come easily — but it was important to him.
“So it’s been really cool,” Krystkowiak continued. “He’s been a go-getter with it.”
Balancing academics and athletics, the coach explained, is really hard. It’s challenging enough to do one.
As such, Krystkowiak said it’s “pretty darn rewarding” for everyone involved.
Utah’s basketball program had four players go through graduation — Wright, Dallin Bachynski, Austin Eastman and Jeremy Olsen. He predicts big things out of them all, calling them special kids.
“It’s awesome and it’s awesome for the families. It’s a big accomplishment,” Krystkowiak said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything — what I do have an opportunity to be a part of it — and I’m not sure any of them would trade it for anything.”
Krystkowiak added that graduation is something that is, in his words, super cool.
“It just kind of puts the bow on the whole thing. It’s the culmination. It’s the last thing that takes place and then you send them on their way,” he said. “Then you hope you see a lot of them and you hope you get birth announcements and wedding invitations and those kind of things.”
Each year, when graduates and their families invade the Huntsman Center for the various commencements, it makes Krystkowiak think that everyone earning a degree has a story to tell.
Wright certainly does.
“This is a great day for the Wright family and for Delon,” said Ray Wright, his father. “It’s been kind of a bumpy road, a hard road for him, but he’s here. He did it.”
Ray credits Delon for staying on the path.
“I’m proud. I’m really proud,” he said. “This is a dream come true.”
Stacy Wright, Delon’s mother, added the word “super” before proud and explained that it means a lot to the family.
“He took the long road,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how you start, it’s how you finish and that’s what I told him.”
Delon is one of the first college graduates in the family. His mother, though, edged him out by a few months when she earned a degree in organizational management from Ashford University.
“She kind of beat me to it,” said Delon, who added that it’s all been a fun time. “I’m glad that I finally made it.”
His mother expressed similar thoughts while waiting for the ceremonies to begin, sitting alongside Delon’s grandparents. She enthusiastically labeled it as a special occasion and rewarding.
“Everything worked out for the best and we’re so proud of Delon that he decided to stay,” Stacy said. “We’re glad that he decided to stay and realize how important education is and he went back to school.”
Delon’s father joked that with school complete, Delon is now back in the real world. His next stop is expected to be the NBA, with older brother Dorell, who turned pro out of high school and just completed his 11th season in the league — the past two with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Having two sons in the NBA is something Ray admitted he’s never really thought about.
“But it’s like a dream come true, too,” he said.
As for Delon’s landing spot, Ray is OK with anything.
“Wherever is OK,” he said. “Wherever he’s at we’ll be there.”
And on Friday, that was at commencement.
Email: dirk@desnews.com
Twitter: @DirkFacer