Deja Kelly invited to USA Basketball AmeriCup Trials

The rising senior is one of 22 college standouts trying out to represent the United States in July.

A UNC star may get the chance to take her game to the international level this summer. 

Deja Kelly, a rising senior guard, has been invited to the 2023 USA Women's AmeriCup Team trials, the university announced Thursday. Kelly will be one of 22 elite collegiate players trying out to represent the U.S. from May 11-15 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The FIBA Women's AmeriCup will take place in Leon, Mexico in July. The U.S. has won four gold medals since the event began in 1993, most recently winning in 2021. Other countries competing this year include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. 

The trials will be run by college head coaches Kamie Ethridge (Washington State), Katrina Merriweather (Cincinnati) and Aaron Johnston (South Dakota State). 

Kelly is one of three ACC players participating in the trials, joining Dyaisha Fair (Syracuse) and Ta'Niya Latson (Florida State). She averaged 16.5 points and 3.2 assists per game, shooting a career-high 37.3 percent from the floor in her junior season and leading the Tar Heels to the second round of the NCAA tournament. 

Should Kelly be selected, she'll return to Colorado Springs for training camp in June.