Reniya Kelly returns to her home state in Sweet Sixteen matchup against Duke

After UNC’s victory over Virginia Tech earlier in February, sophomore guard Reniya Kelly brought a special guest to the post-game press conference. 

Her 5-year-old brother Landon. 

He and Kelly’s family made the trip up from Hoover, Alabama — longer than an eight hour drive to Chapel Hill — for a chance to see Kelly play in Carmichael Arena. Before the press conference began, Kelly scooped him up and placed him on her left knee as she fielded questions. 

Kelly's little brother doesn’t get to see her play in Chapel Hill often. 

But on Friday afternoon, Landon and more than 50 friends and family, will attend No. 3 seed North Carolina’s Sweet Sixteen matchup with No. 2 seed Duke in Birmingham, Alabama. It's roughly a 20-minute drive from where she grew up. Kelly has played in Legacy Arena, the site of Friday’s game, five times during middle and high school, where she won four state championships. 

“I just love this place so much because I have so much experience, and the atmosphere is always good here,” Kelly said. “So I'm really just happy to be back in this building.”

On Selection Sunday, Kelly admitted she was praying North Carolina would be in the Birmingham regional. She was elated when it happened. Spending time with loved ones is what she enjoys the most. Yesterday, Kelly’s family met with her and the team at a mall in Hoover connected to the hotel the team is staying at. 

“Those moments are precious to me,” Kelly said, about how she chooses to spend time back home. “I really put family first.”

She claimed Alabama has become the backbone of who she is. Although she’s been fully embraced by UNC, nothing can shake the foundational identity of Kelly’s ties to her home city.

But without her family at every game in Carmichael Arena, UNC’s fanbase has stepped up to support Kelly when they cannot. 

“Carolina fans wrap their arms around our players,” head coach Courtney Banghart said. “I think she feels like she does have her family [in Chapel Hill] even though it's different than her biological family.”

But it’s Kelly’s chance to play in front of her flesh and blood that makes Friday’s game so special. And with the added track record of a 4-1 record in the arena, Kelly's teammates are hoping the guard continues her winning ways in the building. 

“She’s finally home," graduate guard Grace Townsend said. "We haven’t had this many games close to here so that’s been a fun experience being here so far. But she has also won four state championships here so [it’s important] taking that same mentality into the game.” 

Regardless of the outcome, the opportunity to play several miles from home is a dream for most players. But to be able to do it during a UNC-Duke game, let alone the first rivalry matchup in women’s NCAA tournament history, well…

“If that doesn't put a smile on your face, no matter who you are rooting for in the game, then you should get your heart checked,” Banghart said. “Because these kids come from their communities, and they go make a major difference at their institutions. And it’s not often that they get to play in front of their home crowd.”

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