Déjà Vu – The WNBA’s Future Is Deja Kelly

There aren’t many times that a player sets themself apart from the group so much that you consider them head and shoulders above the rest.

We have seen it once players hit the league, such as reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year Rhyne Howard, but rarely has player made you say “she is it” before they play a professional minute.

Deja Kelly is one of those players.

She has been a consistent player over the span of her college career, showing good skills on defense and offense alike. Her ability to create her own shot while getting her own look is one of her best qualities. She seems to always find a teammate by creating space with her dribble.

No other game showcases that better than her 31 point performance against Clemson on January 2nd, 2021.

She most recently won the ACC Player of the Week honor, averaging a healthy 17-5-4 stat line for the North Carolina Tarheels this year. Her home games numbers took a tumble due to a tough game against Jackson State in which she only scored seven points, lowering her home average to 13ppg. She cooks when away from Carmichael Arena, averaging 22 ppg.

Kelly has a smooth shooting motion that suits her natural mid range game. Though her three point percentage dropped to 20% this season, she was a career 33% shooter from the arc coming in. She doesn’t settle for jump shots, either. She will attack the basket and force the defense to respect dribble as well, despite her physical stature.

She has the competitive nature of a lion and standing 5’8” doesn’t stop her from imposing her will on a game. She brings a toughness in a compact package. Think Sabrina Ionescu but three inches shorter.

This young lady is killing the game and could be a player that makes the transition from the college ranks to the WNBA look seamless in a way others have done before…dare I say like Déjà Vu?

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