A Junior Ballard update

So what did Lathrop High's Junior Ballard do this summer after averaging 24.3 points and 10.0 boards while shooting 50%, 44% and 69% for the Spartans in his sophomore season?

Well, he traveled to New York, Texas and Las Vegas for various events while playing for both Splash City and Cal United, the latter coached by six-year NBA veteran Quincy Pondexter.

That got him wider notice, according to Lathrop High Coach Nate McGrath. As a Spartan, "Junior did very well for himself. He can get any shot he wants so opponents were double and triple-teaming him. We also asked him him to guard some very good players." Do also note that the 6-foot-2 guard earned an outstanding 260 free throw attempts while also scoring 51 points against bitter rival Sierra High, scoring 26 points out of his team's 35 in the fourth quarter. In another game, he produced 45 points plus 14 rebounds. Ballard was a First Team Valley Oak League honoree.

"He's put some weight on and he works out everyday," McGrath continued. "One [college] coach told me 'he's got the build to write his own ticket.' He's blowing up."

"His biggest attribute is that he's unafraid," according to McGrath. Playing with and against other very talented players was what Ballard wanted and needed, a chance to both test himself and show against a bevy of other college prospects. "He knows exactly what he wants. He's grown from a kid to a young man."

Also remember that Ballard is a 2018 prospect so plenty of time remains to continue adding to his skills set.

Here's an earlier feature.

Skip the initial 50 seconds of this video as it's warmups and not game action.