South Carolina Alumnus Tre Kelley Earns His Degree 19 Years Later

After a successful professional basketball career, former South Carolina standout Tre Kelley has returned to the University of South Carolina to fulfill a promise and earn his degree. Kelley, a first-team All-SEC player in 2007, left school early to pursue his dream of playing in the NBA, but he always intended to complete his education. Now, with a new goal of coaching college basketball, he needed his degree to move forward.

Kelley was able to return to school through the Carolina Degree Completion Program, an initiative designed to help former student-athletes finish their education. The program provided him with essential support, including funding for tuition, books, and housing, as well as access to academic resources. Kelley completed his degree online, a process he found much easier than balancing classes while he was a full-time athlete.

Kelley’s journey is a powerful example of the opportunities available to former athletes. He encourages other professional athletes who left school early to take advantage of similar programs, emphasizing that schools are often eager to help and provide the necessary resources to get it done.