Montreat College adds Owen hoops standout
Jared Kelley ready to ‘keep building’ with Cavaliers
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
June 5, 2025
Owen senior Jared Kelley will continue his basketball career at Montreat College, following a June 4 signing ceremony. Photo by Fred McCormick
Well before he emerged as a consistent scoring threat and physical rebounding presence for the Warhorses, senior Jared Kelley knew what he needed to do to help elevate the program to its best season in nearly a decade.
“Hard work,” he said. “I was going to spend every day making myself a better basketball player, and it wasn’t going to be easy.”
The investment was, however, a rewarding one, leading to a career year on the court and culminating in another milestone, June 4, when family members, teammates and coaches celebrated as he signed to play at Montreat College.
Kelley averaged 4 points per game as a junior for an Owen basketball team that finished 7-16 and sixth in the Western Highlands Conference. He responded by dedicating himself to refining his game.
“I knew coming into this last season I was going to have to step up into a bigger role, with the seniors leaving,” he said. “Everything I worked on was a part of my game that I knew would help me be better in that role.”
Kelley’s work ethic shined as he prepared to enter his senior season, according to Owen head coach Joe Valencia.
“We had multiple two-a-days last summer, and it was very common for them to practice three hours a day, five days a week,” he said. “He’s such a hard worker and he really understood that was the key ingredient in the recipe for success.”
The final product was a strong performance, as Owen finished the season with a 19-6 record and an appearance in the second round of the playoffs. Kelley established himself as an outside threat in the fourth game of his senior season, connecting on six out of nine 3-point attempts and scoring what was then a career-high 21 points while pulling down 13 rebounds.
He topped that performance last January, notching 26 points while hitting 8 of 17 from behind the arc.
“As his confidence grew, he really became a nice scoring option for us, and he had some big games,” Valencia said. “If you hit eight 3-pointers in a game, that’s a milestone. He did that and hit six in a game, twice.”
Kelley finished the 2024-25 campaign, which included a 10-game winning an 11-3 record in the WHIC, with 10.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
Owen senior Jared Kelley, who emerged a consistent scoring and rebounding threat for the Warhorses last season, will continue his career at Montreat College. Photo by Fred McCormick
“It was our first winning season in a long time, and it was an amazing feeling to be part of that,” he said. “I love all my teammates, and even though we say it a lot, I see them all as my brothers. This season was such a great way to go out.”
Earning an opportunity to continue playing the sport at the collegiate level is a “surreal experience,” according to Kelley.
“I mean playing in college is something I’ve dreamed of since I picked up a basketball,” he said. “It’s such a great feeling and it feels like a significant accomplishment.”
Kelley was grateful to receive an offer from nearby Montreat College, where the Cavaliers are coming off a 19-11 mark under head coach Anthony Barringer.
“I was invited to go tour the campus and work out with the team,” Kelley said. “Coach Wyatt (Baggett) pulled me aside and asked if I’d like to play with them, and with it being a local school with a good program, I thought it was a great opportunity.”
The Cavaliers receive a player who is passionate about the game and willing to do what it takes to improve, according to Valencia.
“This is a kid who is going to give you everything on the court,” he said. “He has a level of swagger that helps him exceed expectations. So, they’re getting a guy who may shock them because he has the potential to be a key player or a very valuable role player.”
Kelley is the third Owen basketball player to sign with a college program this year, following Eli Lewkowicz and Jack Wesley Burk, who will compete for Appalachian Athletic Conference rival Milligan University.
"I’m so proud of these guys, for the season they just had and for going on to compete at the next level,” Valencia said. “Just like I told the other two, I can’t wait to see what Jared does over at Montreat.”