Fresno State blew out Cal Poly last year. Now Bulldogs are adding Mustangs’ top scorer

Fresno State had a men’s basketball scholarship open somewhat unexpectedly when guard Niven Hart decided to stay in the NBA Draft after just one college season. But that spot has been filled with the Bulldogs officially adding guard Junior Ballard on Thursday as a transfer from Cal Poly.

“Junior plays hard, shoots the three well, has some toughness and great character,” coach Justin Hutson said.

Ballard, who is from Stockton and went to Modesto Christian High, led the Mustangs in scoring last season with 13.1 points per game. The 6-foot-3 guard also was tied for the team lead with 3.7 rebounds per game and was second with 30 steals. He scored 10 points with four rebounds, one assist and two steals last season when the Bulldogs went on the road and beat Cal Poly 62-37.

The Bulldogs could apply for a transfer waiver for Ballard to be eligible for a potential 2020-21 season along with their other transfer guards, Isaiah Hill and Deon Stroud.

Hill and Stroud, who committed to the Bulldogs in late March and early April, returned to the San Joaquin Valley from Tulsa and Texas-El Paso in part due to wanting to be closer to home and family during the coronavirus pandemic.