By R.L. Bynum
Senior Carolina guard Deja Kelly and the United States team begin play Saturday at the FIBA AmeriCup in León, Mexico.
Some of the most talented college players in the country will seek the USA’s third consecutive gold medal in the 10-team event.
Kelly earned one of the final spots on the team during tryouts last week at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Before leaving Tuesday for León, 250 miles northwest of Mexico City, training included scrimmages against men’s players.
“I’m feeling super-excited, super-blessed,” Kelly said. “It’s a great opportunity always to be a part of Team USA. So, when I heard my name called, and when I was told congratulations, that was truly an honor to be blessed to be able to wear the colors and wear USA across my chest.”
For Carolina last season, Kelly was first-team All-ACC, leading the team with 16.5 points per game, which was sixth in the ACC.
The USA is in Pool A and begins pool play Saturday against Venezuela before meeting Argentina on Sunday and Brazil on Tuesday, with each game starting at 4:40 p.m. The United States’ final pool-play game is at 2:10 p.m. on July 5 against Cuba.
The Americans only need to finish in the top four of its five-team group to advance to the quarterfinals, which are on July 7. The semifinals are on July 8, and the championship is on July 9.
You can watch a streaming broadcast of every USA game at Courtside 1891, which usually requires a subscription to watch. According to USA Basketball, once you register for free, anybody in the United States can watch USA AmeriCup games free on the site.
Kelly is part of a deep roster of guards, which includes South Carolina’s Rsven Johnson, UCLA’s Charisma Osborne, Michigan’s Laila Phelia and Oregon’s Chance Gray.
Stars in the front court are LSU’s Angel Reese and UCLA’s Lauren Betts.
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Projected roster if all players with eligibility other than Elina Aarnisalo, Lanie Grant,, Taliyah Henderson and Liza Ashtakhova and Liza Ashtakhova return, with years listed for next season (UNC is one below the 15-player limit)
| Year | No./ Stars | Players | Pos. | Height | |
| Freshman | 5 star | Kate Harpring | PG | 5–10 | |
| Freshman | 52/4 star | Noelle Bofia | F | 6–4 | |
| Sophomore | 3 | Gabby White — W | G | 5–10 | |
| Sophomore | 7 | Nyla Brooks | W | 6–1 | |
| Sophomore | 26 | Taissa Queiroz | G | 6–1 | |
| Junior | 34 | Blanca Thomas | C | 6–5 | |
| Junior | 1 | Jordan Zubich | G | 5–11 | |
| RS junior | 21 | Ciera Toomey | F | 6–4 | |
| RS junior | 4 | Laila Hull | W | 6–1 | |
| Senior | Sophie Burrows — X | G | 6–2 | ||
| Senior | 11 | Achol Akot — Y | F | 6–1 | |
| Senior | 10 | Reniya Kelly | G | 5–7 | |
| Senior | 15 | Sydney Barker | G | 5–6 | |
| Graduate | 13 | Chloe Clardy — Z | G | 5–9 |
W — Virginia transfer; X — Syracuse transfer; Y — Oklahoma State transfer; Z — Stanford transfer
Former players who entered transfer portal
| Player | Class next season | Pos. | Hgt | Next school |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elina Aarnisalo | Junior | G | 5–10 | UCLA |
| Lanie Grant | Junior | G | 5–9 | TCU |
| Taliyah Henderson | Sophomore | W | 6–1 | Clemson |
| Liza Astakhova | Sophomore | G | 6–2 | BYU |
Photos courtesy of USA Basketball
