North Carolina star commits to Oregon in transfer portal
06/05/2024 19:30
The Oregon women's basketball program made a major splash in the transfer portal Monday, securing the commitment of standout guard Deja Kelly from North Carolina. Kelly's commitment adds a key piece to Oregon’s lineup ahead of their transition to the Big Ten.
Kelly, a three-time all-ACC guard, averaged 15.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and three assists during her career with the Tar Heels. The 5-foot-8 senior from Texas started all four years and led North Carolina in scoring for the past three seasons, per Alexa Philippou of ESPN. With a fifth and final year of eligibility remaining, Kelly had the option of entering the 2024 WNBA draft or continuing her college career.
Upon entering the transfer portal in early April, Kelly did not rule out a return to Chapel Hill. However, last Friday, she announced her decision to move on, thanking the North Carolina community and stating on social media, "I believe it is time to move on, but please know Chapel Hill will always and forever be my home."
"I am forever indebted to the University of North Carolina, the women's basketball program, and greater Chapel Hill community for your hospitality and four years of amazing memories together," Kelly said, via Nick Schultz of On3 . "With that being said, all good things must come to an end.”
Kelly’s decision comes after a standout career at North Carolina, where she finished eighth on the school’s all-time scoring list and helped the Tar Heels reach the Sweet 16 in 2022. This past season, the team fell to eventual national champion South Carolina in the second round.
Deja Kelly has prominent NIL deals
Off the court, Kelly has become a prominent figure in the NIL landscape, with brand partnerships including Tommy Hilfiger, Crocs, Beats by Dre and more, . Her social media presence has also contributed to her NIL success, with 1.2 million followers across platforms. She ranks No. 12 in the On3 Women's NIL 100 and No. 9 in the On3 Women's College Basketball NIL Ranking.
Kelly’s addition is a significant boost for the Ducks, who are looking to rebound from an 11-21 season and return to the NCAA tournament after a two-year absence. Oregon has seen several key players depart through the portal, including Chance Gray to Ohio State and Grace VanSlooten to Michigan State.
Kelly’s commitment also highlights Oregon’s offseason recruitment efforts under head coach Kelly Graves, with the Ducks welcoming six other newcomers: Amina Muhammad from Texas, Salimatou Kourouma from Arizona, Ari Long from Washington, Nani Falatea from BYU, Alexis Whitfield from UC Santa Barbara and Elisa Mevius from Siena.
Moving forward, the Ducks will join the Big Ten alongside former Pac-12 schools Washington, USC, and UCLA. Kelly’s transfer to Oregon aligns her with a team that reached the Final Four in 2019 and could see a resurgence under Graves’ leadership next season.
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