Recruiting Report: Nate Ward (2018)

Guards or wings who have an arsenal of post moves is a sign of a player who was once enjoyed a size advantage. This is the case for Gahanna Lincoln’s <strong>Nate Ward</strong> (2018) who was always the tallest in elementary school. Since, Ward moved to a guard role. However, a recent growth spurt is bringing some of those advantages back into play. “I’m about 6’5” right now … It’s helped my game a lot because I’m more versatile. During the summer I had bigs guarding me, and it’d be easier to put them on an island per se, and get to the bucket or do whatever. I’m bigger than most guards, so it’s easier to post them up and get buckets down low too,” Ward said. Being a 6’5” perimeter player also opens up the recruitment process. The junior said he has interest from Ashland, Tiffin, Kent State, Kentucky State, Elon (NC), West Virginia, and University of Maryland Baltimore County. Although it’s still early in the process, Ashland and Elon have distinguished themselves as programs he’s had the most contact with. “I want some place that’s going to make me better as a basketball player and a person,” Ward said. He went on to identify that academics are important. He carries a 3.4 GPA. On the court, the 62^nd ranked player in the class brings a noticeable passion. “I get talked about my motor a lot. I got to rebound every game … My ability to get to the bucket. For me, it doesn’t matter who’s guarding me, I know I can get to the bucket somehow.” “My jump-shot has improved a lot too, my outside shot. My mid-range has improved a lot,” Ward said. Ward gives credit to his older brother, Nick, who has always pushed him to improve and believe in himself. “My brother, he’s been my idol … We played one-on-one every day at training when we were younger. And he pushed me to get better every day.” “He would tell me to push myself and keep working and that I’m going to make it. And I believed it, so he has a huge influence on what I do now,” Ward said. His brother and former teammate, Nick Ward, is now a freshman player at Michigan State. He leaves behind not only a younger brother, but a Gahanna Lincoln basketball program that opponents may be underestimating. Ward and teammate, Jordan Mitchell (#1 sophomore in Ohio), will be asked to fill the void that the 6’9” center leaves. “I got a young team at Gahanna, I got to show a lot of leadership and work ethic,” Ward said. “The talk around Columbus, I think everybody is sleeping on us because we’re the young team and lost a lot of our players. But, as soon as that season starts, they’re going to know that Gahanna has come.” One can count on Ward to continually bring the energy for the Lions. He will have plenty of opportunities to dazzle coaches, as Mitchell and Ward will attract scouts for the next few seasons. Considering his improved size and the exposure, expect Ward to garner even more interest going forward.