With under a minute remaining on the clock during Hoover’s 2023 Class 7A state championship victory over Sparkman, Reniya Kelly came off the court and made her way to the bench.

She admits she’s not one to cry very much, but the former Miss Basketball couldn’t help but show her emotions as the Hoover fans behind her cheered her on after a legendary high school career.

“It was one of those incredible moments for me,” she said on Thursday.

It’s been over two years since that day, which Kelly remembers all too well; but, it fills her with a goal of adding some more memories in Legacy Arena.

The former Hoover star is set to suit up for North Carolina in the NCAA women’s basketball Sweet 16 on Friday when the Tar Heels face off against archrival Duke at 1:30 p.m. at Legacy Arena.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

“It means everything,” Kelly said of playing in Birmingham. “I’m just going to explain this part: I played here in my eighth grade, ninth grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, and only lost one time: it was my ninth grade year.

“This is like a full cycle for me, and I’m really excited to be here, especially because my family and friends come out and see me. It’s really a blessing to be back home and be close: it’s like 20 minutes away from my house, so this is really close to me.”

This year for Kelly saw her claim All-ACC honors after averaging 9.8 points a game for North Carolina, which is seeded No. 3 headed into Friday’s matchup.

She’s scored in double figures 13 times and ranks fourth on the team with 67 assists this season.

North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart said the sophomore is “exactly on the trajectory and progression” that she and the coaching staff were hoping for.

“I’ve been to Hoover High School many o’ times in order to get Reniya in the Carolina blue,” the coach said. “I thought she was the most improved player in the ACC. You look at her statistics from year one to year two, you look at how she runs our team, how little our team changed and how much better we are, right? It’s because she’s been in charge of it.”

Kelly’s high school career was highlighted by a dominant senior year that saw her claim Miss Basketball honors and finish as Hoover’s all-time leading scorer with 2,272 points.

She averaged 15.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5 assists and 2.4 steals a game as a senior and played in 178 varsity games as a high schooler.

“To be able to now have her high school community and some of the peripheral people that have been a part of building her be able to drive 10 minutes and support her like again, if that doesn’t put a smile on your face, no matter who you were before it came, you should get your heart checked,” Banghart said.

“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 own crowd. Those times where it happens are really, really neat.”

The other site of the Sweet 16 is in Spokane, Washington, with Kelly remembering that she prayed North Carolina would wind up on the Birmingham said of the bracket,

“I was like, I wish I could go to Birmingham, because I do not want to go to Washington,‘” Kelly said. “I just love this place so much because I have so many experiences, and the atmosphere is always good here. I’m really just happy to be back in this building.”

A breakout season for Kelly has seen her become a mainstay of the starting lineup with 32 starts this season for North Carolina.

Ahead of a Sweet 16 matchup with Duke, Banghart expects Kelly to continue to shine for the No. 12-ranked Tar Heels this season and beyond.

“She’s just an easy kid, she plays with great passion, she’s an easy kid to support,” the UNC coach said. “Even the way she was able to manage a kind of a slight injury and then be back and kind of be full form and have us really help us beat the Florida States of the world, etc, as we played in the last few games.

“I know she’s the crowned jewel of Hoover and we’re certainly glad that she’s taken over that role in Chapel Hill as well.”