New Brockton sophomore earns international tournament invitation

New Brockton basketball player Dillon Kelty got a surprise last month when Down Under Sports invited the sophomore to compete in the 23rd Down Under Hoops Classic in Australia.

Kelty started as a sophomore on the New Brockton varsity team and following the season received an invitation from Down Under Sports to compete for Team Alabama.

“I was in complete shock,” Dillon Kelty said of the invitation. “I am beyond excited and very fortunate to get the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Down Under Sports brings underclassman athletes from all over the United States to compete in various sports in Queensland, Australia. A number of NFL and NBA stars have competed in the tournament over the last 25 years.

“We are very proud of Dillon,” Edward Kelty, his father, said. “It took some hard work and dedication on his part to get him as far as he’s gotten and the Lord has directed a path for him.”

New Brockton basketball coach Eric Reynolds said that Dillon Kelty’s work ethic has made him stand out since joining the varsity team.

“He’s an awesome kid,” Reynolds said. “He has great work ethic and a really good attitude. I’m just extremely happy and proud of him.

“He got more comfortable as the season went on and he really did a great job for us this season.”

The Hoops Classic takes place in July and is a 10-day tournament, and participants are responsible for raising around $3,200 each to cover costs during the tournament.

Dillon Kelty and his family started doing carwashes to raise money with the next one taking place on March 23 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Darrell’s Tires in Enterprise.