While covering the Villanova-La Salle game Sunday, I caught up with two Delco players who will be pivotal in La Salle's resurgence - Aaric Murray and Karon Burton.

Burton, the reigning Daily Times Player of the Year, is a redshirt freshman at La Salle who is working toward becoming academically eligible for the 2009-10 season. The Chester product's point guard skills are needed desperately by the Explorers, who had 15 turnovers to nine assists Sunday.

Daily Times: What are you up to right now?
Karon Burton: Nothing right now with the team, but it’s all individual workouts and weight training and everything. I’m just working on my grades right now and I’m getting good ones, too. I have to keep waiting. After next semester, I can start practicing with the team. I have to wait for the summertime to practice, but I’m getting stronger and quicker.

DT: Do you like what you see in this year’s team?
KB: Yeah, we just have to be more patient and capitalize I guess. We look good, but we’ve got to be patient.

DT: What’s the hardest part of college life?
KB: The hardest part? It’s being on your own. You’ve got to hold yourself accountable. It’s all about time management.

DT: What’s your workout plan like?
KB: I lift weights everyday and then I come in here (Tom Gola Arena) and shoot after I lift. Sometimes I come in here later on at night and shoot something like 1,000 shots a day. Some of the trainers, they have me on resistance ropes and have me working on my quickness like that.

DT: What does coach John Giannini say about all of this you’re doing?
KB: Well, I think he’s just excited to have me. He’s looking real forward to next year.

DT: Have you been back to Chester to see coach Larry Yarbray?
KB: I worked out there (Saturday). I went to their first game, too. I think people are underestimating them. We’re 3-0 right now and we’re beating people by 20.

DT: You’re saying ‘we’ as if you’re a part of the team.
KB: I’m an alumni now. I’m always going to be part of the team.

Glen Mills center Aaric Murray wasted no time, announcing his college choice well before his senior season got underway. Murray will attend La Salle next fall and continue his career with the Explorers.

A full report on Murray's verbal committment will appear in Thursday's edition of the Daily Times. Here are some the extras from my interview with him:

On his choice:
"Basically I was comfortable with everything there. Coach (John Giannini) was real with me. Everything he said to me was the truth and I got a good feel for the players. The campus itself, I liked that. I liked the population there. I liked everything. It was a great feeling. The teachers can actually help you individually because there's only 30 per class. I don't know. I felt it in my heart."

On when he had made up his mind:
"I was at home for the weekend and before I left for school, I told Coach G I wanted to go there. When I saw my coach (Glen Mills coach Craig Mellinger) Monday morning, I guess Coach G must've already told him. He was smiling real hard."

On Mellinger's help in the process:
"He was there for me, but he didn't want to influence me into going to one of the schools. He let me decide for myself."