By R.L. Bynum
Deja Kelly hadn’t publicly discussed why she transferred from North Carolina to Oregon for her fifth college season, but she had plenty to say in a TikTok video she posted on Monday afternoon.
Kelly wanted to clear the air because of the comments she had read about her departure from UNC, even though she didn’t owe anybody an explanation. The star 5–8 guard bemoaned a tough senior season at Carolina and said that she could grow her game more in a different system.
“I was a big part of that program that’s back on the national stage, and I ultimately just carried that program on my back for four years in the most humble way,” said Kelly, who was dumbfounded by comments she heard about that she “up and left after one year.”
Kelly, who graduated from Carolina in the spring after playing four seasons, was one of six players to transfer out of the program in the offseason after a 20–13 season and an NCAA tournament berth. The Tar Heels have welcomed five newcomers (two transfers and three freshmen.)
“Thankful that I have one more year to figure myself out and continue to grow as a person and, of course, as a player,” said Kelly, one of seven players who transferred to Oregon, adding that she had a “phenomenal four years” at UNC. “I’m granted a chance to continue to grow my game, get better.”
The three-time All-ACC first-team selection, who said her ultimate goal is to get drafted and play in the WNBA, suggested that being the star on the UNC team who got the most attention made it difficult.
“Being a leader, a face of a program is not easy, and it comes with a lot of BS a lot of people cannot handle,” Kelly said. “So, I give kudos to myself for being able to handle all this stuff that I went through for the past four years. That position is not for everybody. I am completely confident that it has made me way stronger mentally.”
Injuries last season forced Kelly to take over point guard duties most of last season. She didn’t mention that but said it was a difficult season.
“I found myself not playing with the joy that I used to play the game with,” Kelly said. “That’s as blunt as I can get, and that is not a great feeling. I felt it early on in the season, midseason, to where I really just did not want to play.”
“That may sound bad, whatever it is, but there are times where we just don’t get it and cannot get ourselves through it like that,” she said. “And that was me this past season, and that’s where I think I built up the courage. I am really proud of myself for realizing that, in that I needed just a different environment in order to try to find that again.”
Carolina made the NCAA tournament all four years and Kelly led the Tar Heels in scoring the last three seasons.
“I know that there’s stuff that I have to continue to grow in my game and be consistent at and I felt like me transferring and going to Oregon was going to best help me do that and best prepare me,” Kelly said. “The efficiency? I feel like that will grow in a different system. Obviously, we’ll still see, but I’m pretty confident that a different system will allow me to operate a little better from a basketball standpoint.”
Oregon, which made the 2019 Final Four in Sabrina Ionescu’s junior season, is in rebuilding mode after going 11–21 in its last season in the Pac-12. The Ducks are in their first school year as members of the Big Ten.
You can watch her TikTok video here.
Photo via @OregonWBB
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