When we say Deja Kelly can do it all, we mean it.
It’s what she’s always wanted to do: everything.
The fifth-year transfer Oregon Ducks guard both plays basketball and prides herself in pursuing a broadcasting career.
Recently, she recorded 10 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in a 93-63 drubbing over Cal Baptist. She finished that game and quickly went on the sidelines of the Ducks’ men’s game against US Riverside to cover it for the Big Ten Network.
It’s just another addition to her already busy year.
Balancing her basketball and broadcasting ambitions, Kelly has shadowed ESPN analyst Andraya Carter, covered NBA Summer League and even attended the Summer Olympics in Paris.
“Whenever people ask me for advice or whatever it is, I try to tell them: Do not put all your eggs in one basket,” Kelly told The Register-Guard last week. “Anything can happen at any time. So, it’s good to branch out and meet new people, network, build a foundation, or whatever else it is. Even if it’s still through basketball, whether you want to do something still involved with the sport, I think it’s still good to network and build those relationships outside of just playing and practice every day.”
The North Carolina transfer chose North Carolina because of its broadcast journalism program.
That’s more of a backup plan after playing.
https://www.tiktok.com/@dejakellyy/video/7434265215144987950
“That’s super important because I do know that the ball will stop bouncing at whenever that happens to be,” Kelly said.
About Jessica Kleinschmidt
Jess is a baseball fan with Reno, Nev. roots residing in the Bay Area. She is the host of "Short and to the Point" and is also a broadcaster with the Oakland A's Radio Network. She previously worked for MLB.com and NBC Sports Bay Area.