Fresno State Athletics
Photo by: Keith Kountz
Ballard returns home to the Valley
9/3/2020 11:45:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Junior Ballard, who was a high school standout at Modesto Christian School, is back home in the San Joaquin Valley after leading the Cal Poly Mustangs in scoring last season.
2020 Fresno State Men's Basketball Recruiting Class (As of Sept. 3, 2020)
Junior Ballard, who is a product of Modesto Christian School, has returned home to the San Joaquin Valley to play for the Fresno State men's basketball program, Bulldogs' head coach Justin Hutson officially announced on Thursday.
"Junior is a skilled, versatile and experienced guard from Central California and we love that part," Hutson said. "Junior plays hard, shoots the 3 well, and has some toughness and great character. He will fit in great with our team, community and university."
Ballard, a former two-time All-Tri Valley League selection, played his first two collegiate seasons at Cal Poly, which included leading the Mustangs with a scoring average of 13.1 points per contest this past season. He also averaged 3.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
During his sophomore campaign last season, Ballard had five 20-point performances, including a career-high 32 points in a thrilling 101-100 overtime win over Cal State Fullerton in Big West play. As a freshman, Ballard scored 15 points when the Mustangs visited the Save Mart Center for a game the Bulldogs won 76-67 during Hutson's first season at Fresno State. All 15 of those points came via long range with Ballard making five of his seven 3-point field goal attempts in that matchup.
Ballard averaged 16.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.9 steals in his senior season at Modesto Christian School, where he was a four-year letterwinner for the Crusaders.
Ballard, who is a native of Stockton, Calif., is the latest and potentially final addition to the Bulldogs' 2020 recruiting class, which also includes three other Division I transfers – Devin Gage (DePaul), Isaiah Hill (Tulsa) and Deon Stroud (UTEP) – a junior college guard in Kyle Harding and three high school recruits – Leo Colimerio, Braxton Meah and Destin Whitaker.
Of those eight newcomers, four have ties to the San Joaquin Valley (Ballard – Modesto & Stockton, Hill – Bakersfield, Meah – Fresno and Stroud – Fresno).
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley '' – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
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- Junior Ballard (Guard, 6-3, Junior, Stockton, Calif. / Cal Poly)
- Leo Colimerio (Guard/Forward, 6-7, Freshman, Sao Paulo, Brazil / Wasatch Academy)
- Devin Gage (Guard, 6-3, Senior, Chicago, Ill. / DePaul)
- Kyle Harding (Guard, 6-3, Sophomore, Long Island, N.Y. / Allan Hancock College)
- Isaiah Hill (Guard, 6-0, Sophomore, Bakersfield, Calif. / Tulsa)
- Braxton Meah (Center, 7-0, Freshman, Fresno, Calif. / San Joaquin Memorial HS)
- Deon Stroud (Guard, 6-5, Sophomore, Fresno, Calif. / UTEP)
- Destin Whitaker (Guard, 6-5, Freshman, Romeoville, Ill. / Romeoville HS)Â
Junior Ballard, who is a product of Modesto Christian School, has returned home to the San Joaquin Valley to play for the Fresno State men's basketball program, Bulldogs' head coach Justin Hutson officially announced on Thursday.
"Junior is a skilled, versatile and experienced guard from Central California and we love that part," Hutson said. "Junior plays hard, shoots the 3 well, and has some toughness and great character. He will fit in great with our team, community and university."
Ballard, a former two-time All-Tri Valley League selection, played his first two collegiate seasons at Cal Poly, which included leading the Mustangs with a scoring average of 13.1 points per contest this past season. He also averaged 3.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
During his sophomore campaign last season, Ballard had five 20-point performances, including a career-high 32 points in a thrilling 101-100 overtime win over Cal State Fullerton in Big West play. As a freshman, Ballard scored 15 points when the Mustangs visited the Save Mart Center for a game the Bulldogs won 76-67 during Hutson's first season at Fresno State. All 15 of those points came via long range with Ballard making five of his seven 3-point field goal attempts in that matchup.
Ballard averaged 16.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.9 steals in his senior season at Modesto Christian School, where he was a four-year letterwinner for the Crusaders.
Ballard, who is a native of Stockton, Calif., is the latest and potentially final addition to the Bulldogs' 2020 recruiting class, which also includes three other Division I transfers – Devin Gage (DePaul), Isaiah Hill (Tulsa) and Deon Stroud (UTEP) – a junior college guard in Kyle Harding and three high school recruits – Leo Colimerio, Braxton Meah and Destin Whitaker.
Of those eight newcomers, four have ties to the San Joaquin Valley (Ballard – Modesto & Stockton, Hill – Bakersfield, Meah – Fresno and Stroud – Fresno).
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley '' – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
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