Ballard, who averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 5.8 steals as a sophomore and was second-team All-Columbus North Division, is regarded as a junior player on the rise in Ohio. At 6'4 and 186-pounds, Ballard plays frontcourt for Mifflin and is lauded as an aggressive player, who has been asked to bang in the post and run the point. After leading the Punchers in scoring as a sophomore, Ballard is currently the third-leading scorer (17.2) in the Mifflin frontcourt that also includes seniors Ryan Allen (21.2), Bryan Jackson (10.0) and Darrell Boyd (20.2).

Boyd is a summer move-in, and has taken a lot of the rebounding role on the team, giving Ballard more of a slasher/passer role. Ballard was filling in at point guard until the team's starting point, junior Terrence Woods, returned to the team.

Ballard toured the AAU tournaments last summer on All-Ohio Red juniors.