Nick Ward (basketball)

Nick Ward
No. 44 – Michigan State Spartans
Position Power forward
League Big Ten Conference
Personal information
Born (1997-09-02) September 2, 1997
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight 250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school Lincoln (Gahanna, Ohio)
College Michigan State (2016–present)

Nick Ward (born September 2, 1997) is an American college basketball player for the Michigan State Spartans.

Early life and high school career

Ward is engaged to ex Michigan State women’s basketball player, Kalabrya Gondrezick, and is the son of Jeff and Stephanie Ward. His father played professional basketball in Switzerland, Turkey, the Philippines and Japan. Nick began playing basketball at a young age and shot the ball right handed despite being naturally left-handed.[1] He starred at Lincoln High School in Gahanna, Ohio and averaged 21.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as a senior. He verbally committed to Michigan State in April 2015.[2] Ward was a four-star prospect and a consensus top-50 recruit in the 2016 class.[1]

College career

Freshman

Ward had 18 points in Michigan State's home opener on November 18, 2016 versus Mississippi Valley State.[3] He carried the Spartans against Oral Roberts on December 3, scoring 24 points and adding 10 rebounds.[4] With Ward's career-high 25 points against Oakland on December 21, the Spartans were able to pull away from Oakland in the second half to win 77–65.[5] Ward scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a comeback win against Minnesota on December 27 in a game in which Miles Bridges sat out.[6][7] He had 16 points in a loss to Penn State on January 7, 2018.[8] On January 29, Ward contributed 13 points for the Spartans as they ended their three-game losing streak with a win over Michigan.[9] He had 10 points in a win against Nebraska on February 2 despite suffering from the flu.[10] On February 23 versus Nebraska, Ward and Bridges each had 20 points marking the first time since January 5, 1978, when Magic Johnson and Jay Vincent did it, that MSU had two freshmen score 20 points in a game.[11] Ward's 22 points and nine rebounds led Michigan State to a victory against Wisconsin on February 27.[12] He had 22 points and career-high 16 rebounds in a loss to Maryland on March 3.[13]

Ward scored 15 points and added 11 rebounds but struggled defensively in a loss to Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament.[14] In the NCAA Tournament, Ward had 19 points in a 78–58 win over Miami.[15] Ward contributed 13 points in a second round loss to Kansas, but suffered foul trouble that limited his effectiveness.[16] At the conclusion of the regular season, he was a Big Ten Honorable Mention by the coaches and media.[17][18] He averaged 13.9 points on 59.2 percent shooting and grabbed 6.5 rebounds per game as a freshman.[19]

Sophomore

Coming into his sophomore season, Ward was named to the preseason All-Big Ten team.[20] He added 16 points in the opening game win against North Florida.[21] The following game, Ward scored 19 points in a loss to Duke in Chicago.[22] Ward led all scorers with 22 points in a 93–71 win against Stony Brook on November 19.[23] In a win against Nebraska on December 3, Ward was in foul trouble but managed to score 22 points in 16 minutes to lead the Spartans.[24] He was perfect from the field in scoring 20 points in an easy win against Houston Baptist on December 18.[25] Ward made seven of his eight shots, scoring 22 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in a win against Cleveland State on December 28. He followed that up with 21 points in a 108-52 win against Savannah State and was named Big Ten player of the week on January 2, 2018.[26] Ward contributed 18 points and 13 rebounds in a win versus Indiana on January 19.[27] He scored 17 points in only 12 minutes in a win against Iowa on February 6, missed much of the second half with four fouls.[28]

At the conclusion of the regular season, Ward was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team by the media.[29] He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by the coaches.[30] As a sophomore, Ward posted 12.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. His 64.8 field goal percentage was second-best in the Big Ten.[31] On March 29, Ward announced he would enter the 2018 NBA draft, but he would not sign with an agent.[32] He withdrew from the draft on May 29.[31]

References

  1. 1 2 Quinn, Brendan (December 2, 2016). "At Michigan State, Nick Ward is getting the shot his father never got to take". MLive.com. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  2. ↑ Quinn, Brendan (October 20, 2016). "Just like that, Nick Ward unexpectedly emerges as Michigan State's most important freshman". MLive.com. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  3. ↑ "With Magic in stands, Miles Bridges dazzles, Michigan St. wins, 100-53". Detroit Free Press. November 18, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Oral Roberts vs. Michigan State - Game Recap - December 3, 2016 - ESPN". ESPN.com. December 3, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Nick Ward explodes for 25 points in MSU's 77-65 win over Oakland". Lansing State Journal. December 22, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Michigan State vs. Minnesota - Game Recap - December 27, 2016 - ESPN". ESPN.com. December 28, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Couch: MSU's gritty OT win adds to its potential when Bridges returns". Lansing State Journal. December 28, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Another slow start, mental mistakes doom Michigan State basketball". Detroit Free Press. January 8, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Trio of freshmen lead Michigan St in 70-62 win over Michigan". The Washington Times. January 30, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  10. ↑ "MSU notes: Illness doesn't stop Goins, Ward from scoring". Detroit Free Press. February 3, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Highly touted freshmen lead Michigan State to 88-72 win over Nebraska". Detroit Free Press. February 23, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  12. ↑ Quinn, Brendan (February 27, 2017). "Nick Ward reminding everyone, including himself, what Nick Ward can do". MLive.com. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  13. ↑ "MSU takes another 'L,' but eager to bounce back in Big Ten tournament". Detroit Free Press. March 5, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Michigan State notes: Cassius Winston, Nick Ward struggle defensively". Detroit Free Press. March 10, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  15. ↑ Solari, Chris (March 10, 2017). "MSU shakes off bad start, blows away Miami in NCAA tournament, 78-58". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Michigan State vs. Kansas - Game Recap - March 19, 2017 - ESPN". March 19, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Men's Basketball Postseason Honors: Purdue's Swanigan named Big Ten Player of the Year". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. March 6, 2017. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
  18. ↑ "2016-17 All-Big Ten Men's Basketball Team" (PDF). CSTV.com. March 6, 2017. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
  19. ↑ Quinn, Brendan (April 13, 2017). "Nick Ward returning to MSU after considering testing NBA waters". MLive.com. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Michigan State basketball unanimous pick to win Big Ten title". Detroit Free Press. October 17, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  21. ↑ "No. 2 Michigan State basketball kicks off season with rout of North Florida, 98–66". Lansing State Journal. November 10, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Michigan State basketball: Tom Izzo tired of 'holding my own,' takes blame in loss to Duke". 247sports.com. November 15, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Langford's Career Night Leads Michigan State Past Stony Brook, 93–71". Michigan State Spartans. November 19, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Nebraska vs. Michigan State – Game Recap – December 3, 2017 – ESPN". ESPN.com. December 3, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Michigan State wins by 45 but effort disappoints Tom Izzo". Detroit News. December 18, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Iowa, Michigan State Earn Weekly Men's Basketball Honors: Spartans' Nick Ward earns Player of the Week award; Iowa's Luka Garza named Freshman of the Week". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. January 2, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Spartans put priority on getting Ward involved early". Detroit News. January 20, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State's 96-93 win at Iowa". Lansing State Journal. February 6, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Big Ten Unveils Men's Basketball Postseason Honors on BTN". Big Ten Conference. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  30. ↑ Austin, Kyle (February 26, 2018). "Jaren Jackson Jr. named top Big Ten freshman and defensive player, Miles Bridges named All-Big Ten". Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  31. 1 2 Austin, Kyle (May 29, 2016). "Nick Ward withdrawing from NBA draft, returning to Michigan State". MLive.com. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  32. ↑ "MSU's Nick Ward submits name for NBA Draft, doesn't hire agent". Detroit News. March 29, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
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