Deja Kelly
{{short description|American basketball player (born 2001)}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Deja Kelly
| image = Deja Kelly Oregon (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Kelly with Oregon in 2025
| number = 25
| position = Point guard
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 8
| weight_lb =
| league = WNBA
| team = Las Vegas Aces
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|9|8}}
| birth_place = San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
| high_school =
- Lady Bird Johnson (San Antonio, Texas)
- Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas)
| college =
- North Carolina (2020–2024)
- Oregon (2024–present)
| draft_year = 2025
| draft_league = WNBA
| career_start =
| highlights =
- 3× First-team All-ACC (2022–2024)
- ACC All-Freshman Team (2020)
- McDonald's All-American (2020)
| medal_templates = {{MedalSport|Women's basketball}}
{{MedalCountry|{{bkw|USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIBA AmeriCup}}
{{MedalSilver|2023 Mexico|Team}}
}}
Deja Kelly (born September 8, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks and the North Carolina Tar Heels, where she was a three-time first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) selection. Kelly graduated from Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas, where she was named a McDonald's All-American.
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.{{cite web |date=November 9, 2021 |title='You're Deja Kelly': Sophomore guard uses her voice to lead Tar Heels' backcourt |url=https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2021/11/sports-unc-womens-basketball-deja-kelly-feature |access-date=June 5, 2022 |website=The Daily Tar Heel}} Kelly drew inspiration from Skylar Diggins-Smith.{{cite web |last1=Riddle |first1=Greg |title=2020 SportsDayHS girls basketball Player of the Year: Duncanville's Deja Kelly |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/basketball/2020/03/20/2020-sportsdayhs-girls-basketball-player-of-the-year-duncanvilles-deja-kelly/ |website=The Dallas Morning News |access-date=June 5, 2022 |date=March 20, 2020}} She began playing varsity basketball as a freshman at Lady Bird Johnson High School in San Antonio.{{cite web |last1=Hinojosa |first1=David |title=Basketball cousins find a home at Johnson |url=https://www.expressnews.com/sports/high_school/high_school_basketball/article/Basketball-cousins-find-a-home-at-Johnson-10923700.php |website=San Antonio Express-News |access-date=June 5, 2022 |date=February 10, 2017}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Hinojosa |first1=David |title=H.S. girls basketball: Wagner's Williams, Brandeis' Connally lead E-N All-Area teams |url=https://www.expressnews.com/sports/high_school/high_school_basketball/article/H-S-girls-basketball-Wagner-s-Williams-11009783.php |website=San Antonio Express-News |access-date=June 6, 2022 |date=March 18, 2017}} As a sophomore, she averaged 27.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, making the San Antonio Express-News Super Team.{{cite web |last1=Hinojosa |first1=David |title=Express-News All-Area Girls Basketball Team |url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/high-school/article/Express-News-All-Area-Girls-Basketball-Team-12815299.php |website=San Antonio Express-News |access-date=June 10, 2022 |date=April 9, 2018}}
Kelly transferred to Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas for her junior season.{{cite web |last1=Hinojosa |first1=David |title=All-state guard transfers from Johnson to Duncanville |url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/high_school/high_school_basketball/article/All-state-guard-transfers-from-Johnson-to-13292914.php |website=San Antonio Express-News |access-date=June 5, 2022 |date=October 9, 2018}} She hoped to gain more national attention by playing at a larger school. 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 Dallas Morning News.{{cite web |last1=Riddle |first1=Greg |title=SportsDayHS 2019 all-area girls basketball teams: See full first, second and third teams for the Dallas-area |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/2019/03/14/sportsdayhs-2019-all-area-girls-basketball-teams-see-full-first-second-and-third-teams-for-the-dallas-area/ |website=The Dallas Morning News |access-date=June 10, 2022 |date=March 14, 2019}} 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.
=Recruiting=
Kelly was considered a five-star recruit and the number 10 player in the 2020 class by ESPN.{{cite web |title=Deja Kelly 2020 High School Girls' Basketball Profile |url=http://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/225156 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=June 10, 2022}} In seventh grade, she committed to play college basketball for Texas, her father's alma mater,{{cite web |last1=Arth |first1=Susie |title=Why Wait? Seventh-Grade Guard Deja Kelly Commits To Texas |url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/news-commentary/story/_/id/11734100/why-wait-seventh-grade-guard-deja-kelly-commits-texas |publisher=ESPN |access-date=June 5, 2022 |date=October 20, 2014}} before reopening her recruitment four years later.{{cite web |last1=Riddle |first1=Greg |title=Duncanville five-star recruit Deja Kelly signs with North Carolina |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/basketball/2019/11/18/duncanville-five-star-recruit-deja-kelly-commits-to-north-carolina/ |website=The Dallas Morning News |access-date=June 10, 2022 |date=November 18, 2019}} On November 18, 2019, Kelly committed to North Carolina over offers from Texas A&M, Duke and Minnesota.{{cite web |last1=Olson |first1=Dan |title=No. 17 prospect Kelly going with North Carolina |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/28107539/no-17-prospect-kelly-going-north-carolina |publisher=ESPN |access-date=June 10, 2022 |date=November 18, 2019}}
College career
File:Deja Kelly (Jan 2024) 09 (cropped).jpg in 2024]]
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.{{cite web |last1=Bynum |first1=R.L. |title=Kelly, Holešínská and others impressive in UNC debuts as Tar Heels roll |url=https://tarheeltribune.com/2020/11/25/kelly-holesinska-impressive-in-unc-debuts-as-tar-heels-roll/ |publisher=Tar Heel Tribune |access-date=June 10, 2022 |date=November 25, 2020}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Northam |first1=Mitchell |title=Women's Basketball: Veterans Lead UNC To Upset Win Over No. 18 Syracuse |url=https://www.wunc.org/sports/2020-12-18/womens-basketball-veterans-lead-unc-to-upset-win-over-no-18-syracuse |publisher=WUNC |access-date=June 10, 2022 |date=December 18, 2020}} She matched her season-high in points twice in consecutive wins over Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech in February 2021.{{cite web |last1=Bynum |first1=R.L. |title=Kelly hits 22 again as UNC avenges losses to Hokies, all but clinches NCAA berth |url=https://tarheeltribune.com/2021/02/28/kelly-hits-22-again-as-unc-avenges-losses-to-hokies-all-but-clinches-ncaa-berth/ |publisher=Tar Heel Tribune |access-date=June 10, 2022 |date=February 28, 2021}} 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.{{cite web |title=Deja Kelly – Women's Basketball |url=https://goheels.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/deja-kelly/23415 |publisher=University of North Carolina Athletics |access-date=June 10, 2022}}
As a sophomore, Kelly had a career-high 31 points along with four rebounds and four assists in an 81–62 win against Clemson on January 2, 2022.{{cite web |last1=Bynum |first1=R.L. |title=Kelly's career-high 31 points lead UNC blowout of Clemson |url=https://tarheeltribune.com/2022/01/02/kellys-career-high-31-points-lead-unc-blowout-of-clemson/ |publisher=Tar Heel Tribune |access-date=July 15, 2022 |date=January 2, 2022}} One week later, she recorded her first double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds in a 71–46 win over Virginia Tech.{{cite web |title=No. 15 North Carolina women's basketball rolls past Virginia Tech, 71-46 |url=https://www.wdbj7.com/2022/01/10/no-15-north-carolina-womens-basketball-rolls-past-virginia-tech-71-46/ |publisher=WDBJ |agency=Associated Press|access-date=July 15, 2022 |date=January 10, 2022}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Desadier |first1=Charlie |title=From NIL Deals to a Sweet 16 Run, Deja Kelly is Already a Star in the Making |url=https://www.slamonline.com/the-magazine/deja-kelly-unc-slam-238/ |website=Slam |access-date=June 10, 2022 |date=June 7, 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Cockrum |first1=Blake |title=UNC Basketball: Deja Kelly named All-America Honorable Mention |url=https://keepingitheel.com/2022/04/01/unc-basketball-deja-kelly-named-america-honorable-mention/ |publisher=Keeping It Heel |access-date=July 15, 2022 |date=April 1, 2022}}
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,{{cite web|url=https://theacc.com/news/2023/2/28/acc-womens-basketball-announces-2022-23-award-winners.aspx|title=ACC Women's Basketball Announces 2022-23 Award Winners|website=theacc.com|publisher=The Atlantic Coast Conference|date=February 28, 2023|access-date=March 20, 2023}} 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,{{cite web|url=https://www.tarheeltimes.com/article140670.aspx|title=Video: Deja Kelly Scores Career-High 32 In UNC Loss To Syracuse - Highlights|website=tarheeltimes.com|date=February 9, 2023|access-date=March 20, 2023}} and on the season led the team in points and assists, averaging 16.3 points and 3.2 assists per game.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/player/stats/_/id/4433410/deja-kelly|title=Deja Kelly Stats |work=ESPN|access-date=March 20, 2023}}
Professional career
Kelly went undrafted in the 2025 WNBA draft. On April 18, 2025, she signed a training camp contract with the Las Vegas Aces.{{Cite web |title=Las Vegas Aces Sign Deja Kelly to Training Camp Contract |url=https://aces.wnba.com/news/las-vegas-aces-sign-deja-kelly-to-training-camp-contract |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=aces.wnba.com |language=en}}
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.{{cite web |title=Deja Kelly |url=https://www.usab.com/players/deja-kelly |publisher=USA Basketball |access-date=September 25, 2023}}
Career statistics
{{WNBA player statistics legend}}
{{WNBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21
| style="text-align:left;"| North Carolina
| 24 || 22 || 28.8 || .329 || .307 || .810 || 2.3 || 2.9 || .8 || 0 ||1.9|| 11.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22
| style="text-align:left;"| North Carolina
|32|| 32 || 30.7 || .366 || .361 || .858 || 3.6 || 2.6 || 1.4|| .2 ||2.2|| 16.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23
| style="text-align:left;"| North Carolina
| 32 || 32 || 35.4 || .373 || .281 || .721 ||3.9||3.2|| 1.3 || .2 ||2.4|| 16.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24
| style="text-align:left;"| North Carolina
|33||33|| 36.1 || .346 || .286 || .694 ||3.9||3.2|| 1.4 || .3 ||2.7|| 16.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2024–25
| style="text-align:left;"| Oregon
|32||32||31.8||.386||.238||.714||4.3||3.3||1.5||0.1||1.9||12.2
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
|153||152||33.0||36.2||30.3||74.9||3.7||3.0||1.3||0.2||2.2||14.7
{{S-end}}
Personal life
Kelly's mother, Theresa Nunn, played basketball at Valley City State University and raised her as a single parent.{{cite web |last1=Bynum |first1=R.L. |title=Kelly's endorsement money is good, but her deals are about more than that |url=https://tarheeltribune.com/2022/02/23/kellys-endorsement-money-is-good-but-her-deals-are-about-more-than-that/ |publisher=Tar Heel Tribune |access-date=June 10, 2022 |date=February 23, 2022}} Her father, Darren Kelly, played college basketball for Texas from 1999 to 2001 and was an All-Big 12 selection.
Kelly has signed name, image and likeness (NIL) deals with Beats Electronics, Dunkin' Donuts, Forever 21 and Outback Steakhouse, among other companies.{{cite web |last1=Delahanty |first1=Nick |title=UNC Basketball: Deja Kelly lands major ambassador deal |url=https://keepingitheel.com/2022/05/14/unc-basketball-deja-kelly-lands-major-ambassador-deal/ |publisher=Keeping It Heel |access-date=June 5, 2022 |date=May 14, 2022}} She has equity in the hydration company Drink Barcode as part of an NIL deal.{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Randall |title=UNC's Deja Kelly Signs Equity NIL Deal with Plant-Based Barcode |url=https://boardroom.tv/north-carolina-unc-deja-kelly-barcode-nil/ |publisher=Boardroom |access-date=July 14, 2022 |date=March 3, 2022}}
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. She has served as an anchor for Sports Xtra, a student-run show at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media.
In 2023, Kelly attended Kelsey Plum's Dawg Class, an Under Armour-sponsored camp to help top women college athletes transition from collegiate to professional basketball.{{cite web |first=Alex |last=Sinatra |title=WNBA draft pick Nika Mühl headlines 2024 Kelsey Plum Dawg Class |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/wnba-draft-pick-nika-m-195750915.html |website=Yahoo Sports |date=April 18, 2024 |access-date=April 28, 2024}}
In May 2024, Kelly graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor's of arts degree in broadcast journalism. She has enrolled in the broadcast journalism master's program at the University of Oregon.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://goducks.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/deja-kelly/16783 Oregon Ducks bio]
- [https://goheels.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/deja-kelly/22508 North Carolina Tar Heels bio]
- [https://www.usab.com/players/deja-kelly USA Basketball bio]
{{Las Vegas Aces current roster}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Deja}}
Category:21st-century American sportswomen
Category:American women's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from San Antonio
Category:Duncanville High School alumni
Category:McDonald's High School All-Americans
Category:North Carolina Tar Heels women's basketball players