ATHLETE OF THE WEEK : No Job Too Large for Calabasas Handyman Ward

Of necessity rather than choice, Steve Ward has spent his four years at Calabasas High establishing himself as a jack of all trades. And he’s mastered them all.

In his first three seasons, Ward, 6-4 1/2, started at point guard, small forward, and off guard. This season, while 6-5 Demetrius Jones missed the first 18 games because of ankle surgery, Ward was handed the task of playing center.

“Coach (Bill) Bellatty told me that’s where I was needed, but I wasn’t thrilled about it,” Ward said. “I’ve always had to prove myself every year and that’s been difficult.”

But as in the past, Ward has met the challenge.

Through 24 games, he is averaging 25 points per game and shooting 54%. He’s put up even bigger numbers since switching three weeks ago to off guard, his natural position. Last week, Ward scored 29 points in Calabasas’ 94-59 rout of Santa Paula, and 33 in the Coyotes’ 73-64 win over Agoura that clinched second place in the Frontier League.

“Playing guard has made a tremendous difference because now I’m facing the basket more,” Ward said. “It’s hard for teams to play a box-and-one on me when I’m up top.”

Ward, the school’s all-time scoring leader, is 155 points short of 2,000.

He has some high-scoring cousins--Dominique Wilkins of the Atlanta Hawks and Gerald Wilkins of the New York Knicks but hasn’t learned any moves from either.

“I only see them at family gatherings and have never had a chance to shoot with them,” he said. “My mother would yell if we started playing ball.”