A pair of Tar Heel women’s basketball freshmen earned All-ACC Academic honors on Wednesday, the day before UNC begins its run in the ACC Tournament.

Guards Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby were each among 41 total players selected from the conference. The All-ACC Academic team recognizes both academic and athletic success during the 2020-21 season.

Both players have made an immediate impact on the court for the Tar Heels, earning places in the starting lineup for the majority of the season.

Kelly is a communications major from San Antonio who was a McDonald’s All-American prior to arriving in Chapel Hill. She is the two-time reigning ACC Freshman of the Week and was named an All-ACC Freshman team selection after averaging 10.9 points per game–including an average of 19.3 points over her last four outings.

Ustby–from Rochester, Minnesota–led the Tar Heels in minutes played while posting averages of 9.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. She has yet to declare a major.

The duo will help UNC begin its ACC Tournament run on Thursday, as the No. 8 seed Tar Heels take on No. 9 seed Wake Forest at the Greensboro Coliseum.

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Women's Basketball Ranked No. 12 in 2026-27 AP Preseason Poll
Head coach Courtney Banghart and UNC checked in at No. 12 in the AP Preseason Top 25 poll, which was released Tuesday. It’s the third consecutive year and fourth overall in Banghart’s tenure that the Tar Heels have been ranked inside the top 15 in the preseason poll. Comin' in at No. 𝟭𝟮 in the […]
UNC Women's Basketball Beats Davidson in Preseason Exhibition
A 12-0 run in the second quarter helped UNC overcome an early deficit and beat Davidson 76-66 in a preseason exhibition at Carmichael Arena Sunday afternoon. That's a preseason 𝘿𝙐𝘽!@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/jQ6yUzYrri — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) October 18, 2026 The 12-0 Tar Heel run flipped a 23-20 deficit into a 32-23 lead in […]
On Air Today: UNC Women's Head Basketball Coach Courtney Banghart
UNC Women's Basketball Head Coach Courtney Banghart spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Wednesday, October 14. She previewed the upcoming season for the women's team, highlighting some roster additions, including one of the top freshman in the country in Kate Harpring. She discussed the storylines going into to the season, including the environment at Carmichael Arena being a contributing factor to elite players wanting to come to UNC. She talked about the program's ability to retain players, some recent big wins on the recruiting trail, and more.
UNC Women's Basketball Picked 3rd in ACC; Kate Harpring Receives Preseason Honor
UNC was picked to finish third in the ACC in the league’s preseason poll Tuesday. The Tar Heels received one of 76 first-place votes. Duke, which is coming off consecutive conference titles, sits at No. 1 in the preseason poll with 49 first-place votes. No. 2 Louisville (22 votes) is next, followed by UNC and […]
The Morning News: Faith Hedgepeth Trial, Affordable Housing, UNC Football
In today's news: the Faith Hedgepeth murder trial continues, and a local nonprofit cuts the ribbon on four affordable homes.
5-Star Guard Ryan Carter Commits to UNC Women's Basketball
Another highly coveted prospect will be joining the Tar Heels next season. Ryan Carter, who 247 Sports rates as a five-star recruit and the No. 10 overall player in her class, announced her commitment to head coach Courtney Banghart and UNC Monday evening. Carter is the second five-star recruit from the Class of 2027 to […]
This Week in UNC Sports: October 12-18
More and more of UNC's winter sports are beginning their seasons as we hit the middle of October, and "crossover season" is upon us.
Themes and Takeaways Around Women's Basketball at ACC Tipoff – Stroman On Sports (October 9, 2026)
The Hill's Deborah Stroman and Brighton McConnell chat on Friday, October 9, about the ACC Tipoff event in Charlotte earlier in the week.
The Morning News: Hedgepeth Trial, Gas Tax, Google Fiber, and UNC-Pitt
In today's news: the Faith Hedgepeth murder trial continues, and UNC football gears up to face no. 25 Pitt.
Micah Ojo, No. 6 Prospect in 2027 Recruiting Class, Commits to UNC Women's Basketball
Micah Ojo, who ESPN rates as a five-star prospect and the No. 6 overall recruit in the 2027 class, announced her commitment to head coach Courtney Banghart and UNC Thursday. Ojo also held offers from Duke and Vanderbilt. View this post on Instagram A 6-foot-1 wing originally from Virginia Beach, Ojo is described by ESPN […]
›