UNC Basketball: Kelly named to Wooden Award Late Season Watch List

UNC basketball star Deja Kelly has made the list of 20 student-athletes who are considered front-runners for the annual Wooden Award. 

On Monday, the Wooden Award announced its top 20 late-season watch lists for both men’s and women’s college basketball.

The UNC basketball programs are fortunate to have a representative on each of these lists.

For the UNC women’s basketball program, it’s Deja Kelly representing the Tar Heels, as she’s played a big role in the team’s 16-5 start.

As the players are chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the 2022-23 season thus far, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see Kelly among the top players in the country.

The San Antonio, Texas native leads North Carolina with 16.2 points per game, ranking fifth among all ACC players. She also ranks among the conference leaders in assists (seventh) assist-turnover ratio (eighth), field goal percentage (10th), and free throw percentage (13th).

Five ACC players made the list, which ranks as the most of any conference in the country. Joining Kelly on the list is Elizabeth Kitley of Virginia Tech, Ta’Niya Latson of Florida State, Olivia Miles of Notre Dame as well as Hailey Van Lith of Louisville.

Kelly is a very special basketball player, as she’s grown into one of the top players in all of college basketball. If she continues her strong play over the final couple of weeks of the regular season, it wouldn’t be a surprise if she is viewed as a serious contender for the award.

Click here to view the entire list for the Wooden Award Top 20 Late Season watch list.

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