MACKSVILLE basketballer Clay Perkins has once again represented his state on the court.

Perkins has been playing for the NSW team at the Ivor Burge Championship, a national championship for players with an intellectual disability underway this week at Ballarat.

It’s the second year he has represented NSW at the championship, with the Ivor Burge state team featuring the top players in NSW with an intellectual disability.

To prepare for the championship, Perkins trained at his local gym getting his fitness in peak performance.

Clay’s mother Karen said her son loved the defensive aspect of basketball.

“He’s very good at defence and loves playing it, and he’s asked the NSW coach if he can defend all the best players at the championship,” she said.

“Clay is the definition of a hard worker and puts 110 percent into every single training session.”

As well as representing NSW on the basketball court, the 21-year-old has excelled at touch football, representing the Northern Eagles.

He was a member of the Northern Eagles All Abilities team that won last year’s Inferno National Touch League title in Coffs Harbour.

His first sporting love was rugby league, having played for the Bowraville Tigers as a junior.

You can watch Clay live at the Ivor Burge Championship which will be broadcast on KommunityTV.

By Aiden BURGESS