University of North Carolina Athletics
Kelly Selected For McDonald's All-American Game
January 24, 2020 | Women's Basketball
When the 2020 roster for the girls' McDonald's All-American Game was announced on Thursday, a Tar Heel was on the list. Deja Kelly, a North Carolina signee who will join the squad for the 2020-21 season, was one of 24 players selected for the prestigious event.
A 5-8 guard from San Antonio, Texas, Kelly is the first incoming Tar Heel to earn the honor since Janelle Bailey, who was a member of the 2017 McDonald's All-American Team and is now a UNC junior.
"Deja is such a tremendous talent and this honor comes as no surprise to our staff because we're all well aware of the work she has put in to improve consistently over the years and the overall commitment she has to being great," said Carrie Moore, UNC's recruiting coordinator as well as an assistant coach. "This is a wonderful accomplishment in the midst of an already fantastic senior season she's having at Duncanville, as her team is ranked No. 1 in the state, No. 7 in the country, and she's close to scoring 3,000 career points. We are all so proud of her, thrilled for her and her family, and can't wait until she's in Carolina blue."
The McDonald's All-American Game is scheduled for April 1 in Houston and will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
Kelly is averaging 22.9 points per game for Duncanville High School, which is currently ranked at the top of Class 6A in Texas. A five-star recruit, she ranks No. 17 overall in the ESPN girls' basketball recruiting rankings. She's a two-time all-state and three-time all-region selection and earlier this season scored a career-high 47 points in a game.
She's part of a group of five student-athletes who signed with UNC in November as first-year head coach Courtney Banghart's inaugural Carolina class.
"I still remember my first conversation with Deja," Banghart said. "I had made the obvious decision that so many others had as well: Deja would be a star in the ACC. She's an elite shooter, a gifted scorer, a talented combo guard, and a gutsy competitor. But it was after that very first conversation when she went from being someone I wanted to coach to someone I had to coach.
"Deja is a perfect fit for this program. She is a star and she backs it up with consistency. She's goal-oriented, a true gym rat, a quality teammate, and a dedicated scholar-athlete who comes from a great family. Deja is coming to Carolina to make a difference and Tar Heel fans are going to love watching her represent UNC."
A 5-8 guard from San Antonio, Texas, Kelly is the first incoming Tar Heel to earn the honor since Janelle Bailey, who was a member of the 2017 McDonald's All-American Team and is now a UNC junior.
"Deja is such a tremendous talent and this honor comes as no surprise to our staff because we're all well aware of the work she has put in to improve consistently over the years and the overall commitment she has to being great," said Carrie Moore, UNC's recruiting coordinator as well as an assistant coach. "This is a wonderful accomplishment in the midst of an already fantastic senior season she's having at Duncanville, as her team is ranked No. 1 in the state, No. 7 in the country, and she's close to scoring 3,000 career points. We are all so proud of her, thrilled for her and her family, and can't wait until she's in Carolina blue."
The McDonald's All-American Game is scheduled for April 1 in Houston and will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
Kelly is averaging 22.9 points per game for Duncanville High School, which is currently ranked at the top of Class 6A in Texas. A five-star recruit, she ranks No. 17 overall in the ESPN girls' basketball recruiting rankings. She's a two-time all-state and three-time all-region selection and earlier this season scored a career-high 47 points in a game.
She's part of a group of five student-athletes who signed with UNC in November as first-year head coach Courtney Banghart's inaugural Carolina class.
"I still remember my first conversation with Deja," Banghart said. "I had made the obvious decision that so many others had as well: Deja would be a star in the ACC. She's an elite shooter, a gifted scorer, a talented combo guard, and a gutsy competitor. But it was after that very first conversation when she went from being someone I wanted to coach to someone I had to coach.
"Deja is a perfect fit for this program. She is a star and she backs it up with consistency. She's goal-oriented, a true gym rat, a quality teammate, and a dedicated scholar-athlete who comes from a great family. Deja is coming to Carolina to make a difference and Tar Heel fans are going to love watching her represent UNC."
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