University of North Carolina Athletics
For the second year in a row, Deja Kelly has been named to the watch list for the Nancy Lieberman Award as point guard of the year.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Kelly Named To Watch List For Point Guard Of The Year Award
October 16, 2023 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – For the second year in a row, UNC's Deja Kelly has been named to the 20-player Watch lLst for the Nancy Lieberman Award as the nation's top point guard, as announced on Monday by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
Kelly, a senior from San Antonio, is one of 20 standouts on the list and one of four representing the Atlantic Coast Conference. A first-team All-ACC pick in each of the past two seasons, Kelly is a two-time WBCA honorable mention All-America honoree. As a junior last season, she averaged 16.5 points per game, tops on the team and sixth in the ACC. She also ranked ninth in the league in assist/turnover ratio and 11th in assists per game.
She represented the U.S. last summer as part of the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup Team, which claimed a silver medal in Mexico in July.
Kelly has been named a team captain for the 2023-24 season, which the Tar Heels will open on Nov. 8 at home against Gardner-Webb.
Now in its 24th year, the Nancy Lieberman Award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. The 20-player watchlist, determined by a national committee, will be trimmed to 10 in January and then to five in February. The winner will be announced in March.
Fan voting for the award opens on Friday.
For a look at the full watch list, click here.
👀 Keep watching 👀
🔗: https://t.co/2fsemp8sF5#GoHeels | #InPursuit | @dejakelly25 pic.twitter.com/z625tzCIXN— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) October 16, 2023
Kelly, a senior from San Antonio, is one of 20 standouts on the list and one of four representing the Atlantic Coast Conference. A first-team All-ACC pick in each of the past two seasons, Kelly is a two-time WBCA honorable mention All-America honoree. As a junior last season, she averaged 16.5 points per game, tops on the team and sixth in the ACC. She also ranked ninth in the league in assist/turnover ratio and 11th in assists per game.
She represented the U.S. last summer as part of the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup Team, which claimed a silver medal in Mexico in July.
Kelly has been named a team captain for the 2023-24 season, which the Tar Heels will open on Nov. 8 at home against Gardner-Webb.
Now in its 24th year, the Nancy Lieberman Award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. The 20-player watchlist, determined by a national committee, will be trimmed to 10 in January and then to five in February. The winner will be announced in March.
Fan voting for the award opens on Friday.
For a look at the full watch list, click here.
Players Mentioned
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