UMBC women’s basketball senior Delaney Yarborough recently chatted with PressBox about her whirlwind college career, her goals for after basketball and more. The 6-foot-3 center averaged 3.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game for North Carolina A&T in 2024-25. Yarborough is a native of Ellicott City, Md., and graduate of McDonogh School.
PressBox: How did you first become interested in basketball?
Delaney Yarborough: To be honest, it was really my dad, [Edward], and my sister, [Yasmeen]. My dad had a cousin that got him all these NBA trading cards, so we would go downstairs and look at them. He’d watch a game and that’s how we got to stay up at night. When the Finals came on, we used to stay up past our bedtime. When it came time to pick a sport, I chose tennis. My sister chose basketball. She would sit on the sideline for my practices, but I could not sit still for basketball. I was like, “I’ve got to try it.” So next season, it was all me.
PB: Who was the biggest influence on your game growing up?
DY: I’m going to have to go with A’ja Wilson. I just love her personality and just the way she had a close relationship with her coach and everything. She’s really a beast. I always modeled my game after her.
PB: What are your favorite memories from McDonogh?
DY: My senior year we won the [IAAM A Conference] championship. That was definitely one of my favorites. My freshman year, one of the first places basketball took me was Puerto Rico [for a tournament].
PB: Why did you choose to go to Stony Brook first?
DY: [Buck Carey] actually coaches here right now. He recruited me to go to Stony Brook. I had fallen in love with the way he coached and everything. I wanted to get away from home. They were actually my first offer, too, so I really felt loyal to them. I thought it was a good fit for me at first.
PB: How did you end up at North Carolina A&T?
DY: After my sophomore year, I hit the transfer portal. My sister actually goes to A&T as a regular student. My old AAU teammate plays on the A&T team. Her name is Paris Locke. She called me and was like, “Hey, the coach is interested and everything.” A day or two later, the head coach called me and they offered me.
PB: How did you end up back home at UMBC?
DY: When I first hit the portal to go to A&T, [Carey] hit me up. He was already here at UMBC. I was wishy-washy because had already left [Stony Brook] and I wasn’t really trusting that. I really wanted to be with my sister, so I didn’t go. But this year when he called me again, the coaches are just so genuine. When I came on the visit, I fell in love with them and I’m close to home. I’m only about 15 minutes away. I was like, “You know what? I’m going to do my senior year at home, get the home love.”
PB: Has your college career felt like a whirlwind?
DY: Personally, I feel like my college experience was a whirlwind. I’m a very loyal person. When I went to Stony Brook, I thought I was going to stay for four years. I stayed for two, but then I realized it is 2024 and people do transfer to other places. The first place isn’t always home. But then last year, I also thought I was going to stay, too, but at this point, if you don’t feel comfortable, there is another opportunity for you.
PB: What’s your favorite thing about UMBC?
DY: I would say the interactions. Our coach does a really good job of having us reach out to the community. The other day, we did an ROTC workout and we were able to talk to the ROTC kids on campus. We went around campus with a golf cart and a blowhorn telling [students] to come out to our first game with free T-shirts. Just getting involved with them and seeing them interact with us, I love that.
PB: Who’s your best friend on the team and what’s a story that underscores your friendship?
DY: I’m going to have to go with [Tiara Bellamy and Carmen Yánez]. All three of us, we’re also captains. [Bellamy] was actually part of my recruiting process. As soon as I came on campus, she made sure that I felt comfortable and everything. She and one of my other teammates came up to my room for a long time, just talking me through the process and just making sure I’m adjusting correctly and everything. Everybody on the team is real nice. I wouldn’t say I have a best friend, but those two are probably my top two right now.
PB: Who did you look up to early in your college career?
DY: Her name is Nyajuok Toang. She’s from Iowa, but she had come from [Saint Louis]. She had just transferred the same year I was becoming a freshman. To be honest, I felt like she really took me under her wing. We have one of the closest bonds ever. I feel like she really showed me the ropes and showed me how college is supposed to be. She actually was one of the ones that encouraged me to transfer and get a better opportunity. She was like, “I see you working. There are other schools. I transferred. The portal’s not that scary.” I really appreciate her for that.
PB: What advice would you give to younger players looking to play in college?
DY: I would tell them to keep working. Even when you don’t think people are watching, you’ve got to keep working. There’s going to be another opportunity. Don’t be scared to hit the portal if you need to. Always find a school that you believe that you’re going to stay there and have a good time and be welcome and feel like you’re part of a family, but if you truly know it’s time to go, then you know it’s time to go.
PB: What are your goals for after basketball, whenever it ends?
DY: Right now, I’m looking after college to continue playing, but I am doing a B.S. in psychology. I really want to be a clinical psychologist. I love working with kids, so hopefully something in the pediatric world. … My high school counselor was really, really good. I never even went to him for problems, but I was there just to talk about his job and everything and I was like, “Yeah, this is definitely something I want to do.”
Photo Credit: Tyler Kraft/UMBC Athletics
Issue 295: October / November 2025
Originally published Oct. 15, 2025