BREAKING: Ducks Land Another Brilliant UNC 5-star Guard
Deja Kelly Joins the Ducks
Oregon’s 2024-25 women’s basketball roster has been bolstered by the addition of star guard Deja Kelly, head coach Kelly Graves announced on Tuesday. Kelly is transferring to Oregon after a decorated four-year career at the University of North Carolina.
Kelly’s Impressive Resume
During her time with the Tar Heels, Kelly was a two-time WBCA all-America honorable mention selection and a three-time all-ACC first-team pick. She helped lead UNC to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet Sixteen berth in 2022.Kelly leaves UNC as the program’s eighth all-time leading scorer with 1,858 points. She led her team in scoring in each of the last three seasons, averaging 15.4 points per game, which ranks 10th in North Carolina history.Last season, Kelly averaged 16.3 points per game, her third straight year of at least 16.0 points per contest. She also contributed 3.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 34.6% from the field.
Highly Regarded Transfer
Tabbed as the No. 11 player in the transfer portal by ESPN.com’s Charlie Creme, Kelly started 120 of her 121 games played over four seasons at UNC. She averaged 15.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 35.7% from the field and 31.2% from the 3-point line.Kelly was a five-star recruit and the No. 10 national prospect in the 2020 recruiting class, according to espnW. She was also named the 2019-20 Gatorade Texas Girls Basketball Player of the Year and was a 2020 McDonald’s All-American.
Graduate Transfer
Kelly will be a graduate transfer in 2024-25 and has one year of eligibility remaining.
Deja Kelly, a 5-8 guard from San Antonio, Texas, spent four seasons at North Carolina where she excelled in women’s basketball. She was a first-team all-ACC selection for three consecutive years and leaves North Carolina as the eighth highest scorer in program history with 1,858 points. Kelly played a key role in leading the Tar Heels to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet Sixteen run in 2022.
Throughout her collegiate career, Kelly received multiple accolades and recognitions, including being named to prestigious watch lists such as the Nancy Lieberman Award, Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award, and USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Player of the Year award. She was also ranked among the top players by ESPN.com and was recognized as the No. 11 player in the transfer portal by ESPN.com’s Charlie Creme.
Kelly’s on-court performance was consistently impressive, with her leading North Carolina in scoring for three consecutive seasons, averaging over 16.0 points per game each year. She showcased her skills in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and free throw shooting, demonstrating her versatility and impact on the court.
Before her collegiate career, Kelly was a standout player at Duncanville High School, where she earned numerous accolades, including being named a McDonald’s All-American and a Jordan Brand All-American. She was highly rated as a five-star recruit and the No. 10 national prospect in the 2020 class by espnW.
Additionally, Kelly represented Team USA at the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, where she contributed to winning a silver medal. Her basketball journey has been marked by consistent excellence and recognition at both the collegiate and high school levels.
