CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Rossview High senior Cameryn “Cam” Ward was doing what he loved on Friday, playing a pickup basketball game with friends, when he suddenly collapsed on the court.
Head basketball coach Johnny Jackson, who spent the past four years coaching Ward, said the group was playing a series of games at a local church when Ward was getting back on defense, and he went into cardiac arrest.
“One of his teammates called me immediately; he was lying with him on the ground,” Jackson told Clarksville Now. “He called me right after they called EMS to see if I could get ahold of his mom. … I immediately got to the hospital and waited for the ambulance to arrive. When Cam showed up, it was too late, and they pronounced him deceased about 30 minutes later.”
Ward was only 17.
Jackson said Ward brought sunshine every day, and he was someone who loved life and lived it to the fullest. The coach said he was always smiling, encouraging others, while serving as a role model for the younger kids and as a great friend to the older ones. Jackson said if he could talk to Ward right now, he would tell him how proud he was.
“He taught me so much more than I ever taught him. I would switch places with him in a heartbeat. He lived life the way it was supposed to be lived. He was carefree, energetic and just smiled and spoke to everyone. … If the world had more Cams in it, it would be such a better place,” Jackson said.
“Cam was full of light and joy and was such a positive presence in our classrooms, on the court and in our school community,” CMCSS spokesperson Anthony Johnson said in a statement sent to Clarksville Now.
Johnson said Ward will be missed in the hallways, and also in the main office, where he would go to get his favorite candy bar – Twix – from Mrs. Fields.
“He was and is an absolutely amazing young man who has a special place in so many hearts. He will be truly missed but will always be remembered – especially in the echoes of basketball games in our gymnasium and in the laughter of our hallways. We want to wrap our arms around his mother, Jessica Ward, his teammates, Coach Jackson and our assistant basketball coaches,” Johnson said.
Ward had a big list of accomplishments while playing basketball for Rossview High. He scored over 1,000 career points, and he helped lead the 2023-24 Hawks to a final four state tournament appearance.
Ward was also named to the all-district and all-region team this past season.
If interested in donating to the Ward family at this time, here is a link to their Go Fund Me.