
Deja Kelly has been named to the Midseason Top 25 Watch List for the Wooden Award.
Photo by: Keith Lucas
Kelly Named To Midseason Watch List For Wooden Award
January 4, 2023 | Women's Basketball
Junior guard Deja Kelly has been named to the Midseason Top 25 Watch List for the John R. Wooden Award, as announced Wednesday by the Los Angeles Athletic Club. The list was selected by a poll of national college basketball experts and is based on performance during the 2022-23 season so far.
Â
Kelly is leading the Tar Heels this season with 16.3 points per game, which ranks fifth in the ACC. She also ranks sixth in the conference in assists (4.0), seventh in assist-turnover ratio (2.2), 11th in field goal percentage (.371), and 14th in free throw percentage (.724)
Â
Kelly and the No. 22 Tar Heels (9-4) are in Florida to take on Miami Thursday at 6 p.m. She comes into the game just 13 points away from the 1,000-career-points mark.
Â
The Tar Heel junior is one of five players from the Atlantic Coast Conference named to the midseason list. The others are Virginia Tech's Elizabeth Kitley, Notre Dame's Olivia Miles, Louisville's Hailey van Lith and FSU's Ta'Niya Latson, a recent addition to the list. Â
For the full list, click here.
Â
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2023 John R. Wooden Award Women's Player of the Year presented by Wendy's. Players not chosen to the preseason or midseason list are still eligible for the Wooden Awardâ„¢ National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games. The Wooden Award All American Teamâ„¢ will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2023 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy's following the NCAA Tournament in April.
Â
Â
Kelly is leading the Tar Heels this season with 16.3 points per game, which ranks fifth in the ACC. She also ranks sixth in the conference in assists (4.0), seventh in assist-turnover ratio (2.2), 11th in field goal percentage (.371), and 14th in free throw percentage (.724)
Â
Kelly and the No. 22 Tar Heels (9-4) are in Florida to take on Miami Thursday at 6 p.m. She comes into the game just 13 points away from the 1,000-career-points mark.
Â
The Tar Heel junior is one of five players from the Atlantic Coast Conference named to the midseason list. The others are Virginia Tech's Elizabeth Kitley, Notre Dame's Olivia Miles, Louisville's Hailey van Lith and FSU's Ta'Niya Latson, a recent addition to the list. Â
For the full list, click here.
Â
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2023 John R. Wooden Award Women's Player of the Year presented by Wendy's. Players not chosen to the preseason or midseason list are still eligible for the Wooden Awardâ„¢ National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games. The Wooden Award All American Teamâ„¢ will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2023 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy's following the NCAA Tournament in April.
Â
Players Mentioned
Tar Heels in the Community pres. by NC Electric Co-ops - Montross Day of Service - Sept. 23, 2025
Friday, September 26
Carolina Insider - Interview with Caleb Wilson (Full Segment) - September 22, 2025
Monday, September 22
UNC Volleyball: Thorpe Sets New Career High in 4-Set Win vs ECU
Sunday, September 21
UNC Field Hockey: Heck's 5 Goals Propel Heels Over Stanford, 8-1
Sunday, September 21