Pronounced: DAY-zjuh
EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon’s 2024-25 women’s basketball roster has come into focus with the addition of North Carolina star guard Deja Kelly, head coach Kelly Graves announced Tuesday.
Kelly comes to Eugene after a decorated four-year career with the Tar Heels, in which she was a two-time WBCA all-America honorable mention selection and three-time all-ACC first-team pick. She helped UNC to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a berth in the Sweet Sixteen in 2022.
The 5-foot-8 Kelly leaves UNC eighth in program history with 1,858 points, leading her team in scoring each of the last three seasons. Her career average of 15.4 points per game ranks 10th in North Carolina history.
Last season, she ranked ninth in the ACC at 16.3 points a game – her third straight season of at least 16.0 points per game. Kelly added 3.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals a game while shooting 34.6 percent from the field. She set a career high with 235 free throw attempts, with her 163 made free throws ranking fourth in a single season in UNC history.
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, averaging 15.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 35.7 percent from the field and 31.2 percent from the 3-point line. She has totaled 95 double-digit scoring performances, including 32 20-point outputs and a pair of 30-point scoring efforts.
Kelly was a five-star recruit and rated as the No. 10 national prospect in the 2020 recruiting class, according to espnW. She was the 2019-20 Gatorade Texas Girls Basketball Player of the Year and a 2020 McDonald’s All-American.
Kelly will be a graduate transfer in 2024-25 and has one year of eligibility remaining.
Deja Kelly >> 5-8, Guard, San Antonio, Texas
Spent four seasons at North Carolina, where she was a first-team all-ACC selection each of the last three years … Leaves North Carolina in eighth place on the program’s all-time scoring list at 1,858 career points … Led the Tar Heels to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching the Sweet Sixteen in 2022 … Twice named WBCA all-America honorable mention … Named to watch lists for Nancy Lieberman Award (nation’s top point guard), Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award and USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Player of the Year award … Named to ESPN.com’s top-25 player list in 2022-23 and tabbed as the No. 11 player in the transfer portal by ESPN.com’s Charlie Creme … One of five players named USBWA National Player of the Week on Jan. 23, 2024 … Led North Carolina in scoring for the third straight season in 2023-24 at 16.3 points per game, her third straight year producing over 16.0 points a game … Started 120 of 121 games played over four seasons, averaging 15.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 35.7 percent from the field and 31.2 percent from the 3-point line … Started all 33 games for the Tar Heels in 2023-24, with her 16.3 points per game ranking ninth in the ACC … She added 3.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals a game while shooting 34.6 percent from the floor … Set a career high with 235 free throw attempts, with her 163 made free throws ranking fourth in a single season in UNC history … Finished in double figures in 27 of 33 games, including 11 20-pointscoring efforts with a season-high 29 coming against Virginia Tech … As a junior in 2022-23, named WBCA all-America honorable mention and all-ACC first team … Starting all 32 games, she averaged a team-best 16.5 points and 35.4 minutes a game, ranking sixth in the ACC in scoring and fifth in minutes … Named to the Naismith Trophy Midseason watch list (top 30) and Midseason top-25 watch list for the Wooden Award … Earned ACC player-of-the-week and tournament MVP honors after leading UNC to the Phil Knight Invitational title in Portland … Earned WBCA all-America honorable mention and all-ACC first-team honors as a sophomore in 2021-22 after leading UNC and finishing fourth in the ACC at 16.5 points per game … Named to the Greensboro Regional all-tournament team after leading the Tar Heels to the Sweet Sixteen, where she scored a team-high 21 points against South Carolina … Started 23 of 24 games as a freshman and was voted to the ACC’s all-freshman team and all-ACC academic team … Twice named ACC Freshman of the Week and one of five freshmen named to the ACC’s Newcomer of the Year watch list … Played her prep ball at Duncanville High School, where she was a 2020 McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand All-American … Named 2019-20 Gatorade Texas Girls Basketball Player of the Year and Texas Player of the Year by MaxPreps and USA Today … Rated as a five-star prospect and the nation’s No. 10 recruit in the 2020 class by espnW … Led Duncanville to the 2020 Texas 6A state title where she was named tournament MVP … Earned WBCA Coaches’ and Jersey Mike’s Naismith National High School All-America honorable mention … Three-time all-state and four-time all-region selection … Played for Team USA at the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup where she won a silver medal in Leon, Mexico.
Graves on Kelly: Deja is a game-changer. She is a prolific scorer and such a unique talent who elevates everyone around her. She is a really skilled ball-handler who can create her own shot and create for teammates, but she can also play off the ball and knock down the three while also playing great perimeter defense. Her basketball IQ, drive and work ethic are second to none. She is a tremendous leader with high character who will make an immediate impact on our program.
