Shannon KeoughCabrini College recently welcomed a new member, Deana DiAmico, to one of its most exclusive clubs, the 1,000 Point Club.
DiAmico started playing basketball at the age of 3. Her mother, Sheila DiNardo, once a scholarship basketball player for Wilmington University, would take Deanna with her to practice every day. “I would bring toys, but Deana just wanted to play with the basketball,” DiNardo said. DiNardo would graduate and eventually go on to coach basketball at the high school level. As a high school freshman, DiAmico continued to follow her mom to practice, while playing for her mom at the Sanford School. “She was a real scoring source there,” DiNardo said. Her junior and senior years were spent at
Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Del., when Sheila took over the coaching duties at the school.
The dynamic mother – daughter team won two high school state championships together.
“There is nothing like winning two state championships with your daughter,” DiNardo said.
DiAmico earned four varsity letters in basketball. She was also a three-time All-Conference honoree, named to the All-State Third Team as a sophomore and junior and All-state First Team as a senior. She helped her team to win four conference championships and two state titles and along the way scored over 1,000 points.
“I wanted to stay close to home and I wanted my family to see me play,” Deana responded when asked why she chose to attend Cabrini College.
“I have always been her No. 2 fan behind her Grandfather Louie who loves watching her play,” DiNardo said.
At Cabrini, DiAmico has been a starter all four years, playing in 80 out of 84 games. She demonstrates the importance of teamwork by leading the lady Cavs with assists her freshman, sophomore, junior and senior year for a total of 406 and counting.
“I love the team and how close we all are, and winning two back-to-back championships is nice too,” DiAmico said.
On Tuesday, Feb. 2, with two minutes and 53 seconds remaining in the game, DiAmico scored her 1,000th point as a lady Cavalier.
“It was a really nice experience to share with my family and teammates,” DiAmico said.
“She’s a helpful teammate, she’s the first one to tell someone what they’re doing wrong, but she is also the first one to say what they are doing right,” Julie Bonomo, junior education major, said.
“She is always looking to help everyone on the court,” Maryellen Anastasio, junior communication major, said. “One of the smartest basketball players, she knows the game very well and she is able to communicate that with our team.”
“Deana has not only been a great player, but a leader for all of us,” Rita McKeown, freshman education major, said.
DiAmico is also smart off the court, earning a spot on her first Colonial States Athletic Conference Academic All-Conference Team. She has also been named CSAC First Team and she was CSAC Player of the Week.
After graduation, DiAmico hopes to attend Harcum College’s Nursing School and continue to pursue her love of the game as an assistant coach under the person who first introduced her to the sport, her mom.
“I think she will be a great coach and a help to the program,” DiNardo said.
“She is going to make an amazing coach. She always knows where her teammates are on the court,” Anastasio said.
“Basketball has always been a part of my life. I don’t know what life would be like without it,” DiAmico said.
