Deja Kelly

Deja Kelly (born September 8, 2001) is an American college basketball player for the North Carolina Tar Heels of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). She is a two-time first-team All-ACC selection. Kelly graduated from Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas, where she was named a McDonald's All-American.

Deja Kelly
No. 25 – North Carolina Tar Heels
PositionPoint guard
LeagueAtlantic Coast Conference
Personal information
Born (2001-09-08) September 8, 2001
NationalityAmerican
Listed height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Career information
High school
CollegeNorth Carolina (2020–present)
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing  United States
FIBA AmeriCup
Silver medal – second place2023 MexicoTeam

Early life and high school career

Kelly developed an interest in basketball at age five, playing on courts in San Antonio, Texas. She trained under the guidance of her mother, Theresa Nunn, who also coached her on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit.[1] Kelly drew inspiration from Skylar Diggins-Smith.[2] She began playing varsity basketball as a freshman at Lady Bird Johnson High School in San Antonio.[3] In her first year with the team, Kelly averaged 19.2 points, 3.4 steals and 3.1 assists per game and was named San Antonio Express-News Newcomer of the Year.[4] As a sophomore, she averaged 27.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, making the San Antonio Express-News Super Team.[5]

Kelly transferred to Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas for her junior season.[6] She hoped to gain more national attention by playing at a larger school.[1] Kelly averaged 16 points per game as a junior. She was named District 8-6A Offensive MVP and received SportsDayHS All-Area third team honors from the The Dallas Morning News.[7] In her senior season, Kelly averaged 23.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 3.7 steals per game, leading Duncanville to the Class 6A state championship. She earned SportsDayHS Player of the Year and Texas Gatorade Player of the Year recognition. Kelly was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

Recruiting

Kelly was considered a five-star recruit and the number 10 player in the 2020 class by ESPN.[8] In seventh grade, she committed to play college basketball for Texas, her father's alma mater,[9] before reopening her recruitment four years later.[10] On November 18, 2019, Kelly committed to North Carolina over offers from Texas A&M, Duke and Minnesota.[11]

College career

On November 25, 2020, Kelly made her debut for North Carolina, recording 19 points, four rebounds and three assists in a 90–61 win over Radford.[12] On December 17, she posted a season-high 22 points, eight assists and five rebounds in a 92–68 victory against AP No. 18 Syracuse.[13] She matched her season-high in points twice in consecutive wins over Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech in February 2021.[14] As a freshman, Kelly averaged 11 points, 2.9 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game, shooting 32.9 percent from the field. She was a two-time Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Freshman of the Week selection and made the ACC All-Freshman Team.[15]

As a sophomore, Kelly had a career-high 31 points along with four rebounds and four assists in a 81–62 win against Clemson on January 2, 2022.[16] One week later, she recorded her first double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds in a 71–46 win over Virginia Tech.[17] At the 2022 NCAA tournament, Kelly helped North Carolina make its first Sweet 16 appearance in seven years. She averaged 16.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game and shot 85.8 percent from the free throw line, which led the ACC. Kelly earned first-team All-ACC accolades and received Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-American honorable mention.[18][19]

In her junior season, Kelly cemented herself as one of the top women's basketball players in the ACC. Once again earning first-team all-ACC honors,[20] Kelly started every game in which she played, despite missing one contest due to injury. She set a new career high with 32 points in a 75–67 loss against Syracuse,[21] and on the season led the team in points and assists, averaging 16.3 points and 3.2 assists per game.[22]

National team career

Kelly represented the United States at the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup in Mexico. She averaged 5.9 points, 2.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game, helping her team win the silver medal.[23]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 North Carolina 242228.8.329.307.8102.32.9.8011.0
2021–22 North Carolina 323230.7.366.361.8583.62.61.4.216.5
2023–23 North Carolina 313135.4.372.282.7143.83.21.2.116.3
Career 878531.8.361.322.7863.32.91.1.114.9

Personal life

Kelly's mother, Theresa Nunn, played basketball at Valley City State University and raised her as a single parent.[15][24] Her father, Darren Kelly, played college basketball for Texas from 1999 to 2001 and was an All-Big 12 selection.[3]

Kelly has signed name, image and likeness (NIL) deals with Beats Electronics, Dunkin' Donuts, Forever 21 and Outback Steakhouse, among other companies.[25] She has equity in the hydration company Drink Barcode as part of an NIL deal.[26]

At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kelly majors in broadcast journalism and aspires to become a sports broadcaster after her playing career.[15] She has served as an anchor for Sports Xtra, a student-run show at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media.[18]

References
  1. "'You're Deja Kelly': Sophomore guard uses her voice to lead Tar Heels' backcourt". The Daily Tar Heel. November 9, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  2. Riddle, Greg (March 20, 2020). "2020 SportsDayHS girls basketball Player of the Year: Duncanville's Deja Kelly". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  3. Hinojosa, David (February 10, 2017). "Basketball cousins find a home at Johnson". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  4. Hinojosa, David (March 18, 2017). "H.S. girls basketball: Wagner's Williams, Brandeis' Connally lead E-N All-Area teams". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  5. Hinojosa, David (April 9, 2018). "Express-News All-Area Girls Basketball Team". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  6. Hinojosa, David (October 9, 2018). "All-state guard transfers from Johnson to Duncanville". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  7. Riddle, Greg (March 14, 2019). "SportsDayHS 2019 all-area girls basketball teams: See full first, second and third teams for the Dallas-area". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  8. "Deja Kelly 2020 High School Girls' Basketball Profile". ESPN. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  9. Arth, Susie (October 20, 2014). "Why Wait? Seventh-Grade Guard Deja Kelly Commits To Texas". ESPN. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  10. Riddle, Greg (November 18, 2019). "Duncanville five-star recruit Deja Kelly signs with North Carolina". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  11. Olson, Dan (November 18, 2019). "No. 17 prospect Kelly going with North Carolina". ESPN. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  12. Bynum, R.L. (November 25, 2020). "Kelly, Holešínská and others impressive in UNC debuts as Tar Heels roll". Tar Heel Tribune. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  13. Northam, Mitchell (December 18, 2020). "Women's Basketball: Veterans Lead UNC To Upset Win Over No. 18 Syracuse". WUNC. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  14. Bynum, R.L. (February 28, 2021). "Kelly hits 22 again as UNC avenges losses to Hokies, all but clinches NCAA berth". Tar Heel Tribune. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  15. "Deja Kelly – Women's Basketball". University of North Carolina Athletics. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  16. Bynum, R.L. (January 2, 2022). "Kelly's career-high 31 points lead UNC blowout of Clemson". Tar Heel Tribune. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  17. "No. 15 North Carolina women's basketball rolls past Virginia Tech, 71-46". WDBJ. Associated Press. January 10, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  18. Desadier, Charlie (June 7, 2022). "From NIL Deals to a Sweet 16 Run, Deja Kelly is Already a Star in the Making". Slam. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  19. Cockrum, Blake (April 1, 2022). "UNC Basketball: Deja Kelly named All-America Honorable Mention". Keeping It Heel. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  20. "ACC Women's Basketball Announces 2022-23 Award Winners". theacc.com. The Atlantic Coast Conference. February 28, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  21. "Video: Deja Kelly Scores Career-High 32 In UNC Loss To Syracuse - Highlights". tarheeltimes.com. February 9, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  22. "Deja Kelly Stats". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  23. "Deja Kelly". USA Basketball. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  24. Bynum, R.L. (February 23, 2022). "Kelly's endorsement money is good, but her deals are about more than that". Tar Heel Tribune. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  25. Delahanty, Nick (May 14, 2022). "UNC Basketball: Deja Kelly lands major ambassador deal". Keeping It Heel. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  26. Williams, Randall (March 3, 2022). "UNC's Deja Kelly Signs Equity NIL Deal with Plant-Based Barcode". Boardroom. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
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