▁American ▁former ▁professional ▁basketball ▁player , ▁who ▁played ▁shooting ▁guard , ▁small ▁forward , ▁power ▁forward ▁and ▁center ▁positions . ▁Currently , ▁Ward ▁is ▁a ▁T ED x ▁& ▁Mot iv ational ▁Ke yn ote ▁Spe aker , ▁Cons ult ant , ▁Co ach ▁and ▁College ▁Basketball ▁Anal yst ▁for ▁networks ▁including ▁ESP N , ▁Fox ▁Sports ▁and ▁Spect rum ▁Sports . ▁ ▁Ward ▁was ▁the ▁number ▁one ▁rec ruit ▁in ▁the ▁nation ▁winning ▁the ▁Na ism ith ▁P rep ▁Player ▁of ▁the ▁Year ▁award ▁coming ▁out ▁of ▁Cl inton , ▁Mississippi ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 4 . ▁The ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁Mc Donald ' s ▁All - American , ▁First ▁Team ▁Par ade ▁& ▁S lam ▁magazine , ▁USA ▁Today , ▁Basketball ▁Times ▁All - American ▁scored ▁ 2 , 6 5 2 ▁points ▁with ▁more ▁than ▁ 8 0 0 ▁reb ounds ▁in ▁three ▁vars ity ▁seasons ▁at ▁Cl inton ▁High ▁School . ▁As ▁a ▁senior , ▁Ward ▁aver aged ▁ 2 9 . 8 ▁points ▁and ▁ 1 0 . 3 ▁reb ounds ▁per ▁game ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 6 – 3 ▁Ar rows . ▁He ▁posted ▁ 5 1 ▁& ▁ 4 9 ▁points ▁games ▁along ▁with ▁a ▁ 1 9 - re bound ▁game ▁in ▁his ▁senior ▁year ▁campaign . ▁ ▁As ▁a ▁junior , ▁Ward ▁aver aged ▁ 2 9 . 5 ▁points ▁and ▁ 9 . 3 ▁reb ounds ▁while ▁leading ▁Cl inton ▁Ar rows ▁to ▁the ▁Class ▁ 5 A ▁state ▁championship