Clayton Ward returned to Huntington as a senior after a hiatus of several years during which he attended Long Island Lutheran and St. Anthony’s high schools. He immediately rejoined his friends on the Blue Devil basketball and track and field teams.
Ward was a longtime student in Huntington UFSD before enrolling at St. Anthony’s and later at Lu-Hi. He returned to Huntington for his final year and the Blue Devils couldn’t be happier to have him back in the fold.
Huntington High School senior Clayton Ward
The teenager played in 20 games with Huntington’s basketball team and averaged 11.0 points per game along with 5.0 rebounds. Ward connected on 25 three-point baskets and added 31 assists, 22 steals an nine blocked shots.
Ward shot 67.1 percent from the free throw line, sinking 41-of-61 shots. He had 220 points, which was third best on the Blue Devil team. He presence in the lineup helping Huntington win 12 games, reach the playoffs and win a post-season game for the first time in many years.
Ward came back to play for head coach Ken Parham. He scored in double figures nine times and had a season high 20 points in a must-win late season game against Bellport. He pulled down a season best 13 rebounds against Smithtown East.
Once the basketball season ended, Ward decided to join the track and field team. He’s training for the pentathlon, a series of five events that demands pure athleticism.
The big, strong, fast and agile Ward has good odds for winning the divisional pentathlon title. A berth in the state championships in June at Cicero-North Syracuse is possible, but nothing is guaranteed. The teenager is spending time working on all five events, which include high jump, long jump, shot put, 110m hurdles and 1500m run.
Track head coach Ron Wilson is enjoying working with Ward and is excited to see what the senior can do in the pentathlon, which was contested in the ancient Olympic Games in Greece.
Ward isn’t sure of his post-graduation plans. He has been considering the possibility of attending prep school and playing basketball. A junior college or a four-year school are also on the table. He knows he wants to play basketball.
Ward will graduate as a member of Huntington’s Class of 2022, which suits him just fine. He’s happy to walk alongside friends and classmates that he’s known since he was five years old.
