The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
2008-09 Men's Basketball Roster
Roster
Varez Ward
- Position:
- G
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 192
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Montgomery, Ala.
- High School:
- The Patterson School [N.C.]
Returns for his second season in the backcourt rotation ... has the versatility and skill set to play both the point and shooting guard positions ... played in 32 games (one start) during his freshman season ... shined during the NCAA Tournament, averaging 11.5 points and 2.5 assists in 23.5 minutes per game, while converting 9-of-12 (.750) field goals ... two-time Big 12 Commissioner[apos]s Honor Roll member.
As a Freshman in 2008-09:
Played in 32 games (one start) ... came on strong in four postseason games, averaging 9.8 points and 2.3 rebounds in 20.0 minutes per contest while converting 14-of-21 (.667) field goals and 11-of-15 (.733) free throws ... averaged 11.5 points and 2.5 assists in 23.5 minutes per game during the two NCAA Tournament contests, while converting 9-of-12 (.750) field goals ... led the team in assists five times ... dished out four assists against St. Joseph[apos]s (Nov. 24) ... recorded eight points (3-of-7 FG) and three rebounds against Rice (Nov. 30) ... collected a career-high eight rebounds to go with five points against No. 15/12 Villanova (Dec. 9) ... recorded 12 points (4-of-7 FG, 3-of-3 FT) and a career-high seven assists to go with five rebounds against Texas Southern (Dec. 16) ... pulled down four rebounds at Wisconsin (Dec. 23) ... dished out four assists with six points against Appalachian State (Jan. 2) ... made his first career start at Arkansas (Jan. 6) ... totaled eight points on a career-high six made free throws at Baylor (Jan. 27) ... followed with nine points (5-of-7 FT) against Kansas State (Jan. 31) ... scored nine points (5-of-5 FT) against Oklahoma State (Feb. 10) ... tallied eight points and three rebounds at Colorado (Feb. 14) ... posted nine points (3-of-5 FG, 3-of-3 FT), including a stretch of seven consecutive for the team, to go along with three rebounds and two blocks against Kansas State (Mar. 12) in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship quarterfinals ... followed with seven points (2-of-4 FG, 3-of-3 FT) against Baylor (Mar. 13) in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship semifinals ... registered seven points, four assists and three rebounds in 26 minutes during the NCAA First Round against Minnesota (Mar. 19) ... posted a career-high 16 points (7-of-8 FG) in 21 minutes against No. 6/5 Duke (Mar. 21) in the NCAA Second Round ... earned a spot on the Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 Big 12 Commissioner[apos]s Honor Rolls (minimum 3.0 GPA).
High School:
Attended one year of prep school at The Patterson School in Lenoir, N.C. (head coach Chris Chaney) ... ranked as the No. 19 prospect in the country by Scout.com among post-graduate players ... starter at point or shooting guard in all 38 games at Patterson ... averaged 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists per contest while leading Patterson to a 36-2 record ... Patterson began the year with 35 consecutive wins and was the No. 1-ranked prep school team in the nation for the majority of the 2007-08 season ... attended high school at Jefferson Davis High School in Montgomery, Ala. (head coach Terry Posey) ... three-year letterwnner and two-year starter in high school (point guard as a junior and senior, shooting guard as a sophomore) ... earned the starting role at shooting guard midway through his sophomore season ... set the school[apos]s career scoring record ... averaged 21 points per game as a senior while helping his team to a 34-4 mark and a runner-up finish at the 6A state championship ... led Jefferson Davis to a 36-2 record and the Alabama 6A state title as a junior in 2005-06 ... earned a spot on the state championship all-tournament team in both his junior and senior season ... All-Greater Montgomery metro area choice as a junior and senior ... helped Jefferson Davis to a spot in the 6A state championship quarterfinals during his sophomore year.
Personal:
Full name is Kyievarez Ward ... given the nickname Varez by his mom at birth ... son of Sharon Ward ... born Nov. 11, 1988 in Montgomery, Ala. ... began wearing jersey No. 50 in seventh grade after he saw former Auburn guard Doc Robinson (1997-2000) wearing the number ... active community service participant in the Special Olympics program during his year at Patterson.
