( CNN ) He 's a blue chip college basketball recruit . She 's a high school freshman with Down syndrome . At first glance Trey Moses and Ellie Meredith could n't be more different . But all that changed Thursday when Trey asked Ellie to be his prom date . Trey -- a star on Eastern High School 's basketball team in Louisville , Kentucky , who 's headed to play college ball next year at Ball State -- was originally going to take his girlfriend to Eastern 's prom . So why is he taking Ellie instead ? `` She 's great ... she listens and she 's easy to talk to '' he said . Trey made the prom-posal ( yes , that 's what they are calling invites to prom these days ) in the gym during Ellie 's P.E . class . Trina Helson , a teacher at Eastern , alerted the school 's newspaper staff to the prom-posal and posted photos of Trey and Ellie on Twitter that have gone viral . She was n't surpristed by Trey 's actions . `` That 's the kind of person Trey is , '' she said . To help make sure she said yes , Trey entered the gym armed with flowers and a poster that read `` Let 's Party Like it 's 1989 , '' a reference to the latest album by Taylor Swift , Ellie 's favorite singer . Trey also got the OK from Ellie 's parents the night before via text . They were thrilled . `` You just feel numb to those moments raising a special needs child , '' said Darla Meredith , Ellie 's mom . `` You first feel the need to protect and then to overprotect . '' Darla Meredith said Ellie has struggled with friendships since elementary school , but a special program at Eastern called Best Buddies had made things easier for her . She said Best Buddies cultivates friendships between students with and without developmental disabilities and prevents students like Ellie from feeling isolated and left out of social functions . `` I guess around middle school is when kids started to care about what others thought , '' she said , but `` this school , this year has been a relief . '' Trey 's future coach at Ball State , James Whitford , said he felt great about the prom-posal , noting that Trey , whom he 's known for a long time , often works with other kids . Trey 's mother , Shelly Moses , was also proud of her son . `` It 's exciting to bring awareness to a good cause , '' she said . `` Trey has worked pretty hard , and he 's a good son . '' Both Trey and Ellie have a lot of planning to do . Trey is looking to take up special education as a college major , in addition to playing basketball in the fall . As for Ellie , she ca n't stop thinking about prom . `` Ellie ca n't wait to go dress shopping '' her mother said . `` Because I 've only told about a million people ! '' Ellie interjected .
College-bound basketball star asks girl with Down syndrome to high school prom . Pictures of the two during the `` prom-posal '' have gone viral .