Jerod Ward

Jerod Ward

Personal information
Born	(1976-05-05) May 5, 1976 (age 48) Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	235.4 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school	Clinton (Clinton, Mississippi)
College	Michigan (1994–1998)
NBA draft	1998: undrafted
Playing career	1998–2011
Position	Power forward / center
Number	32, 7, 20, 15, 3
Career history
1998–1999	Grand Rapids Hoops
1999–2000	Richmond Rhythm
2000–2001	Los Angeles Stars
2001	Mobiline Phone Pals
2001–2002	Granada
2002	Cibona Zagreb
2002–2003	Granada
2003–2004	Café Najjar
2004	JA Vichy
2004–2005	Jeonju KCC Egis
2005–2006	RB Montecatini Terme
2006	Sagesse Beirut
2007–2008	Shanghai Sharks
2009	Toyama Grouses
2009	Toros de Aragua
2009–2011	Fundación Adepal Alcázar
Career highlights and awards
CBA All-Rookie Team (1999) NIT champion (1997)* Naismith Prep Player of the Year (1994) First-team Parade All-American (1994) * Later vacated

Jerod Davanta Ward (born May 5, 1976)^[1] is an American former professional basketball player, who played shooting guard, small forward, power forward and center positions.^[1] Currently, Ward is a TEDx & Motivational Keynote Speaker, Consultant, Coach and College Basketball Analyst for networks including ESPN, Fox Sports and Spectrum Sports.^[2]

Ward was the number one recruit in the nation winning the Naismith Prep Player of the Year award coming out of Clinton, Mississippi in 1994.^[3] The 1994 McDonald's All-American, First Team Parade & Slam magazine, USA Today, Basketball Times All-American scored 2,652 points with more than 800 rebounds in three varsity seasons at Clinton High School. As a senior, Ward averaged 29.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for the 26–3 Arrows. He posted 51 & 49 points games along with a 19-rebound game in his senior year campaign. As a junior, Ward averaged 29.5 points and 9.3 rebounds while leading Clinton Arrows to the Class 5A state championship; averaging 33.5 points in the state in tournament. As a sophomore, Ward averaged 27.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. He was coached by Joel Boone. In the 2009–10 season Ward was honored by Clinton High School retiring his number 32 jersey.

In 1994, Ward signed with the University of Michigan and comprised part of its highly touted Fab Five II that included Travis Conlan, Maceo Baston, Willie Mitchell, and Maurice Taylor.^[3] Though plagued by injuries at Michigan, Ward ranked fifth in career three-point field goals.^[4]

The six foot nine inch, 235 lbs forward has played for the Grand Rapids Hoops of the CBA, In 1998–99, he averaged 14.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game and was named to the CBA All-Rookie team.^[5][1] He also played for CB Granada in Spain, Cibona Zagreb (Croatia) and was part of the Toronto Raptors training camp in 2002.^[6]