Prospect spotlight: Sam Ward (2018)
Overland Park, Kan. — After battling injuries early in his junior year at Blue Valley Northwest, 2018 guard Sam Ward is looking to prove himself on the hardwood this spring.
A talented 6’1 guard, Ward can play the point or the 2-guard spot and is capable of knocking down 3s in droves, or running a team. He controls the tempo well and has terrific court vision, able to find the open man.
He played alongside several of the most talented players in Kansas, including Darien Jackson, Parker Braun, AJ Pleasant, Joe Pleasant, JaMichael Morgan and others and the squad went on to win a 6A state championship.
“My season at BVNW was awesome,” Ward said. “The talent level at my school is unreal, we are a fast, aggressive and a smart team. Practice was very intense and coach (Ed) Frtiz runs a very good practice.
“He had us doing intense things all the time. Practice was always a competition. We had a lot of talent and that helped everyone because everyone would go their hardest and it made everyone a better player.”
Things haven’t let up for Ward much this spring as he has joined Team KC and is competing on another talented squad. He says he is spending the offseason trying to improve all aspects of his game, but is especially focused on improving at the defensive end.
Ward says his dad has had the biggest influence on his basketball career to date.
“We are always in the gym trying to improve my game,” Ward said.
Although he currently does not hold any offers, Ward has heard from several schools, including Wichita State, Missouri State, Washburn, Sam Houston State, American, Sioux Falls, UMKC and Abilene Christian.