COLUMBIA, Mo. – Former Northwest Mississippi Community College all-conference guard Khamari Ballard is poised for induction into the 14th class of the Columbia College Athletic Hall of Fame this October.

The ceremony will take place on Friday, Oct. 7 in the Dulany Banquet Hall on the campus of Columbia College.

Ballard, a native of Jackson, Mississippi is the son of Barbara Ballard-Jones. Growing up with four other siblings (Anamarie, Allison, Michael and Samory) competition was a part of his life.

Khamari attended Provine High School in Jackson, which boasts one of the most successful basketball programs in the state. During his final three years at Provine, the team played in three straight state championship games, claiming a title in the 1997-98 school year. That year the group was 37-1 and finished the year ranked No. 25 in the USA Today national poll.

Following graduation Khamari attended the University of West Alabama. He was named Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the D-II Freshman All-America team after averaging 13.6 points per game for the Tigers.

He then transferred to Northwest Mississippi Community College and continued his impressive play for head coach Bubba Skelton. There he averaged 13.3 points and nearly eight assists per game and was named second-team all-conference for his efforts. 

In 2002, Khamari was recruited to Columbia College and his career continued its impressive trend. As a junior, Ballard played in all 34 games while starting 13. He was the team's leading scorer, averaging 17.2 points per game, while shooting 47 percent from the field and 41 percent from the three-point line. For his efforts Khamari was named American Midwest Conference Newcomer of the Year and a first-team all-conference recipient. The team ended its season with a 25-9 record and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament for the fifth straight season. Ballard was named an NAIA second-team All-American following the year.

The 2003-04 season would be one to remember, as Khamari helped guide the Cougars to a 32-4 overall record. The team was AMC regular season champion, conference tournament champion and earned another trip to the NAIA National Tournament. Khamari led the Cougars in scoring, averaging 22.6 points per game to go along with 2.2 steals per game. He was named first-team all-conference, AMC Player of the Year and became the first player in program history to garner first-team All-America honors. 

On March 9, 2004, Khamari set the school's single-game scoring record by pouring in 52 points in a 119-45 rout of Harris-Stowe State University. His 52 points broke his own scoring record (47) set earlier in the season against the same opponent.

In addition to the single-game scoring record, Ballard currently holds the records for most points in a season (791), most made field goals in a season (280) and highest scoring average (22.6). Even though he only played two seasons with the Cougars, he currently sits seventh on the all-time career scoring list with 1,377 points. 

Ballard graduated from Columbia College in 2005 with a bachelor of arts degree. Following graduation he pursued a professional basketball career, competing in professional leagues in Mexico and the United States.

He currently resides in his hometown of Jackson.