By R.L. Bynum
Deja Kelly won’t return to Carolina for a fifth college season, saying she is a “Tar Heel for life” but that it’s time to move on.
The three-time All-ACC first-team selection made the announcement Friday on social media but didn’t reveal her plans further than that.
“These last four years have been nothing short of amazing,” Kelly wrote. “The love and support the community has given me from day one has truly been special, and I’ll forever be grateful.”
She is eligible for a fifth college season under the NCAA’s COVID-19 rules. Kelly’s 1,858 career points rank eighth in UNC program history.
“I believe it is time to move on, but please know Chapel Hill will always and forever be my home,” Kelly wrote. “Please rest assured that I gave you all everything that I had, while earning a degree along the way. As I write this letter, I feel confident that I am leaving UNC Women’s Basketball in a bettr place than I found it.”
Even with the versatile 5–8 Kelly not returning, UNC has numerous point guard options, including graduate transfer Grace Townsend, redshirt junior Kayla McPherson, sophomore Reniya Kelly, freshman Lanie Grant and sophomore former walk-on Sydney Barker.
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Kelly is the only one of the six UNC players to enter the transfer portal hasn’t revealed her next school. Paulina Paris committed Arizona, Ali Zelaya to UNCW, Teonni Key to Kentucky, Anya Poole to Clemson and RyLee Grays to Virginia.
Kelly expected to play more off the ball last season until injuries to Kayla McPherson, Reniya Kelly and Paris forced her to become the primary ball-handler most of the time.
Kelly has started 120 of 121 games in her four seasons. She has led the team in scoring with more than 16 points in each of the last three seasons and has averaged 3.2 assists per game in the last two seasons.
Kelly has scored at least 25 points 10 times in her career, including 29 on Feb. 25 at Virginia Tech last season.
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 |
WW — Virginia transfer; — Virginia transfer; X — Syracuse transfer; Y — Oklahoma State transfer; X — Stanford transfer
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 |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics Communications
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