A&M alum Ward building a hoops power at Hayes

Ivan McDowell, Southeast/Mid-South Editor

January 17, 2007 - In 2002, Steve Ward left Alabama A&M University with two degrees in hand and solace that he was exiting the Southwestern Athletic Conference as one of the best shooters in school history.

More importantly for Ward was his maturation as a young man during his five years on the Normal, Alabama campus.

“I give a lot of credit to Coach Pettaway”, says Ward of the current Alabama A&M University Men’s Basketball Coach, whom Ward toiled for from 1998-2002.

“He taught me to stand up for myself and how to be a man, which has really helped me during my time here at Hayes High.”

That aforementioned guidance has aided Ward daily as he tries to develop young men and turn Hayes’ Men’s basketball team into a Birmingham area and Alabama power.

Steve Ward is an up and coming coach in the Southeast.

“I got thrown into the fire at A&M, as well as, here at Hayes” commented Ward, who finished his undergraduate degree in three years in Business Management in 2000 and his masters in 2002.

“That kind of helped me out because where the school is located there are a lot of outside pressures on the young people here. Without the instruction I received at A&M, I wouldn’t have been ready.”

Ward came to “The Hill” from Ramsay Alternative School; playing for Coach Willie Scoggins, Jr., and as one of the Birmingham areas best players in the fall of 1997.

He redshirted his first year, due to the presence of fellow sharpshooter Miguel Smith and guards Damien Crayton, and Micheal Stewart.

As a senior, Ward averaged 13.5 points and five rebounds a game, went on to become a 1,000-point scorer and became a member of the prestigious “Bulldog Club”.

Steve’s career culminated in March 2002 with a loss to Alabama State in the second round of the SWAC conference tourney

“My most memorable moment playing was my last home game at Alabama A&M versus Prairie View.” I went over 1,000 pts for my career and Coach Pettaway gave Desmond and me a curtain call with 5:00 minutes to go.” True to his shooters form, Ward scored 18 points that night despite the Bulldogs defeat.

Wards’ Pacesetters finished with a 20-8 record last season; a mark that tied for third in their area. Led by 6-foot point guard Eric Bledsoe and 6-foot-7 forward/center Edward Daniel, Ward has the luxury of coaching two of the top sophomores in the state.

“Eric and Ed are two outstanding basketball players and fine young guys. Eric [Bledsoe] and Ed [Daniel] are being recruited at the highest level.”

Marquette, UAB, Ole Miss, Alabama have already offered Bledsoe, while Virginia, Virginia Tech and Miami are closely monitoring. Daniel is being chased by some of the same schools, plus he has been offered by Fresno State, Wright St. and Dayton.

This season, Hayes has jumped out to a 13-4 record; going 1-1 in the recently completed Huntsville Times Classic. And although they didn’t win the tournament, Ward was pleased with the way his team competed.

“Man, I feel like we could have done better in the tournament, but we didn’t get a few calls and didn’t make the plays we’re capable of in the last game versus LaVergne (TN),” lamented Ward, who’s Hayes squad fell in the second round.

“Overall though it’s been a great experience playing here and we look forward to coming back next year.”