Hampton Athletics Hall of Fame
Walter "Fuzzy" Ward began playing basketball at George P. Phenix High School in 1954. When he entered then-Hampton Institute he developed into a record-setting scorer. Ward was a three-year team captain, team MVP as a senior as well as First Team All-CIAA.
Outstanding on offense and defense, Ward played 86 consecutive games and closed out his collegiate career by scoring 23 points to break Hampton's all-time scoring record in 1961.
Ward was the first player drafted from Hampton into the NBA as the Detroit Pistons selected him in the eighth round of the 1961 draft. He was also drafted by the Washington, D.C. franchise of the now defunct American Basketball League. Unfortunately, he was unable to accept either offer, however, as he was required to comply with the military draft at the time.
Ward passed away in 2007 and was inducted posthumously into the Hampton Roads African American Sports Hall of Fame.
