After completing a 23-5 regular season and clinching a No. 4 seed and double-bye in this week’s ACC Tournament, both Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby were named to the ACC’s all-conference teams Tuesday morning.

Kelly was named as one of 10 players on the All-ACC first team, after being named to the All-Freshman Team in 2021. Her 15.8 points per game led Carolina, and her free throw percentage of 85.6 was best in the conference. Kelly scored a career-high 31 points against Clemson on January 2, and closed out the regular season by scoring at least 16 points in six of her final seven games. She scored in double figures in 24 of UNC’s 28 games this season.

“I’m so happy for Deja to be recognized as one of the league’s most consistently impactful players,” said head coach Courtney Banghart. “Deja has grown in every statistical category from a year ago, on both sides of the ball and on the glass. She loves the game and is committed to the growth process. She has been a critical piece to our success this season.”

Kelly’s teammate and fellow sophomore Alyssa Ustby earned a spot on the All-ACC second team. Like Kelly, Ustby started every game for Carolina this season, and led the Tar Heels with 8.6 rebounds per game, which ranked fourth in the conference. Ustby also ranked in the top 10 in field goal percentage (45.2), steals per game (1.68) and double-doubles (12). She tied a career-high with 23 points against VCU in November.

“Alyssa’s motor is special,” Banghart said. “She is relentless on both ends of the floor. She can defend five positions and can score all over the floor. She has made a huge jump in her game since her freshman season. She is a better ballhandler, a better shooter, and a more complete player. Alyssa puts in the work and she was rightly recognized as one of the league’s best.”

Kelly, Ustby and the rest of the Tar Heels will begin their ACC Tournament journey Friday morning at 11 a.m. in Greensboro, where they will play either No. 13 seed Syracuse, No. 12 seed Clemson or No. 5 seed Virginia Tech.

For a full look at the All-ACC teams and other conference awards, click here.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

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