University of North Carolina Athletics
Bailey, Kelly Picked For Preseason ACC Honors
November 10, 2020 | Women's Basketball
GREENSBORO, N.C. – North Carolina senior Janelle Bailey has been named to the Preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Basketball Team and freshman Deja Kelly has been named to the Newcomer Watch List, the ACC announced on Tuesday. The Tar Heels were consensus honorees, recognized both by the league's coaches and by the Blue Ribbon Panel of media and school personnel.
It's Bailey's third straight year to be named to the preseason team. Kelly is the first Tar Heel freshman honored since Bailey was named to the Newcomer Watch List in 2017-18.
In the preseason team rankings, the Tar Heels were fourth by the coaches and fifth by the Blue Ribbon panel. It's the highest ranking for Carolina since being picked fourth in the preseason in 2014.
"Preseason rankings coming out means that we're nearing a season and that's what we're all most excited about," said UNC coach Courtney Banghart, who is heading into her second Carolina campaign. "This group has been hard at work to earn success and we're all eager to wear the same color soon. I'd like to extend a special congratulations to Janelle Bailey and Deja Kelly, whose previous successes have been recognized by the ACC coaches. There's lots to look forward to for Tar Heel fans."
Bailey, a center from Charlotte, is coming off a season in which she earned All-ACC honors after averaging 14.5 points and a team-high 9.3 rebounds per game, both in the league's top 10. She was a top-10 finalist for the Lisa Leslie Award as the nation's top center.
Kelly, a guard from San Antonio, Texas, was ranked 10th among the incoming freshman class and was honored as a McDonald's and Jordan Brand All-American. She was the Gatorade Texas Girls Basketball Player of the Year and earned MVP honors as her Duncanville High School team won the Texas 6A state title.
In the team rankings, Louisville was picked first by both the coaches and the panel. To see the full ACC release, click here.
Cardinals' senior Dana Evans was voted the ACC Preseason Player of the Year. Joining Evans and Bailey on both preseason teams are Boston College's Taylor Soule, NC State's Elissa Cunane, Syracuse's Kiara Lewis and Tiana Mangakahia, Virginia Tech's Elizabeth Kitley and Aisha Sheppard, and Wake Forest's Ivana Raca. Notre Dame's Sam Brunelle earned a spot on the Blue Ribbon Preseason All-ACC Team, and NC State's Jakia Brown-Turner secured preseason All-ACC from the head coaches.
Besides Kelly, the Newcomer Watch List included Louisville's Hailey Van Lith, Notre Dame's Maddy Westbeld and Syracuse's Kamilla Cardoso. Kianna Smith of Louisville was selected to the head coaches' list, while FSU's Tiana England was voted to the Blue Ribbon list.
Head Coaches & Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason Player of the Year
Dana Evans, Louisville, Sr., G
Head Coaches Preseason All-ACC Team
Taylor Soule, Boston College, Jr., F
Dana Evans, Louisville, Sr., G (12 Preseason Player of the Year Votes)
Janelle Bailey, North Carolina, Sr., C
Jakia Brown-Turner, NC State So., G
Elissa Cunane, NC State, Jr., C (3)
Kiara Lewis, Syracuse, Sr., G
Tiana Mangakahia, Syracuse, Gr., G
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, So., C
Aisha Sheppard, Virginia Tech, Sr., G
Ivana Raca, Wake Forest, Sr., F
Head Coaches Newcomer Watch List
Hailey Van Lith, Louisville, Fr., G
Kianna Smith, Louisville, Jr., G
Deja Kelly, North Carolina, Fr., G
Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame, Fr., F
Kamilla Cardoso, Syracuse, Fr., C
Head Coaches Predicted Order of Finish
Louisville (13 first-place votes) - 223
NC State (2) - 210
Syracuse - 193
North Carolina - 157
Georgia Tech - 146
Notre Dame - 138
Virginia Tech - 125
Florida State - 124
Boston College - 120
Miami - 99
Duke - 74
Wake Forest - 73
Clemson - 56
Pittsburgh - 37
Virginia - 25
Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason All-ACC Team (57 voters)
Taylor Soule, Boston College, Jr., F (3)
Dana Evans, Louisville, Sr., G (40)
Janelle Bailey, North Carolina, Sr., C
Elissa Cunane, NC State, Jr., C (11)
Sam Brunelle, Notre Dame, So., F
Kiara Lewis, Syracuse, Sr., G
Tiana Mangakahia, Syracuse, Gr., G (3)
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, So., C
Aisha Sheppard, Virginia Tech, Sr., G
Ivana Raca, Wake Forest, Sr., F
() Indicates preseason player of the year votes
Blue Ribbon Panel Newcomer Watch List
Tiana England, Florida State, Gr., G
Hailey Van Lith, Louisville, Fr., G
Deja Kelly, North Carolina, Fr., G
Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame, Fr., F
Kamilla Cardoso, Syracuse, Fr., C
Blue Ribbon Panel Predicted Order of Finish (57 voters)
Louisville (45 first-place votes) – 840 points
NC State (10) – 797 points
Syracuse (2) – 724 points
Notre Dame – 555 points
North Carolina – 547 points
Florida State – 516 points
Virginia Tech – 482 points
Boston College – 468 points
Georgia Tech – 452 points
Duke – 385 points
Miami – 359 points
Wake Forest – 258 points
Clemson – 183 points
Virginia – 149 points
Pitt – 125 points
It's Bailey's third straight year to be named to the preseason team. Kelly is the first Tar Heel freshman honored since Bailey was named to the Newcomer Watch List in 2017-18.
In the preseason team rankings, the Tar Heels were fourth by the coaches and fifth by the Blue Ribbon panel. It's the highest ranking for Carolina since being picked fourth in the preseason in 2014.
"Preseason rankings coming out means that we're nearing a season and that's what we're all most excited about," said UNC coach Courtney Banghart, who is heading into her second Carolina campaign. "This group has been hard at work to earn success and we're all eager to wear the same color soon. I'd like to extend a special congratulations to Janelle Bailey and Deja Kelly, whose previous successes have been recognized by the ACC coaches. There's lots to look forward to for Tar Heel fans."
Bailey, a center from Charlotte, is coming off a season in which she earned All-ACC honors after averaging 14.5 points and a team-high 9.3 rebounds per game, both in the league's top 10. She was a top-10 finalist for the Lisa Leslie Award as the nation's top center.
Kelly, a guard from San Antonio, Texas, was ranked 10th among the incoming freshman class and was honored as a McDonald's and Jordan Brand All-American. She was the Gatorade Texas Girls Basketball Player of the Year and earned MVP honors as her Duncanville High School team won the Texas 6A state title.
In the team rankings, Louisville was picked first by both the coaches and the panel. To see the full ACC release, click here.
Cardinals' senior Dana Evans was voted the ACC Preseason Player of the Year. Joining Evans and Bailey on both preseason teams are Boston College's Taylor Soule, NC State's Elissa Cunane, Syracuse's Kiara Lewis and Tiana Mangakahia, Virginia Tech's Elizabeth Kitley and Aisha Sheppard, and Wake Forest's Ivana Raca. Notre Dame's Sam Brunelle earned a spot on the Blue Ribbon Preseason All-ACC Team, and NC State's Jakia Brown-Turner secured preseason All-ACC from the head coaches.
Besides Kelly, the Newcomer Watch List included Louisville's Hailey Van Lith, Notre Dame's Maddy Westbeld and Syracuse's Kamilla Cardoso. Kianna Smith of Louisville was selected to the head coaches' list, while FSU's Tiana England was voted to the Blue Ribbon list.
Head Coaches & Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason Player of the Year
Dana Evans, Louisville, Sr., G
Head Coaches Preseason All-ACC Team
Taylor Soule, Boston College, Jr., F
Dana Evans, Louisville, Sr., G (12 Preseason Player of the Year Votes)
Janelle Bailey, North Carolina, Sr., C
Jakia Brown-Turner, NC State So., G
Elissa Cunane, NC State, Jr., C (3)
Kiara Lewis, Syracuse, Sr., G
Tiana Mangakahia, Syracuse, Gr., G
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, So., C
Aisha Sheppard, Virginia Tech, Sr., G
Ivana Raca, Wake Forest, Sr., F
Head Coaches Newcomer Watch List
Hailey Van Lith, Louisville, Fr., G
Kianna Smith, Louisville, Jr., G
Deja Kelly, North Carolina, Fr., G
Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame, Fr., F
Kamilla Cardoso, Syracuse, Fr., C
Head Coaches Predicted Order of Finish
Louisville (13 first-place votes) - 223
NC State (2) - 210
Syracuse - 193
North Carolina - 157
Georgia Tech - 146
Notre Dame - 138
Virginia Tech - 125
Florida State - 124
Boston College - 120
Miami - 99
Duke - 74
Wake Forest - 73
Clemson - 56
Pittsburgh - 37
Virginia - 25
Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason All-ACC Team (57 voters)
Taylor Soule, Boston College, Jr., F (3)
Dana Evans, Louisville, Sr., G (40)
Janelle Bailey, North Carolina, Sr., C
Elissa Cunane, NC State, Jr., C (11)
Sam Brunelle, Notre Dame, So., F
Kiara Lewis, Syracuse, Sr., G
Tiana Mangakahia, Syracuse, Gr., G (3)
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, So., C
Aisha Sheppard, Virginia Tech, Sr., G
Ivana Raca, Wake Forest, Sr., F
() Indicates preseason player of the year votes
Blue Ribbon Panel Newcomer Watch List
Tiana England, Florida State, Gr., G
Hailey Van Lith, Louisville, Fr., G
Deja Kelly, North Carolina, Fr., G
Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame, Fr., F
Kamilla Cardoso, Syracuse, Fr., C
Blue Ribbon Panel Predicted Order of Finish (57 voters)
Louisville (45 first-place votes) – 840 points
NC State (10) – 797 points
Syracuse (2) – 724 points
Notre Dame – 555 points
North Carolina – 547 points
Florida State – 516 points
Virginia Tech – 482 points
Boston College – 468 points
Georgia Tech – 452 points
Duke – 385 points
Miami – 359 points
Wake Forest – 258 points
Clemson – 183 points
Virginia – 149 points
Pitt – 125 points
Players Mentioned
Center
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