By SAM LANCE
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Nobody is having a better scoring week at Nike EYBL Peach Jam at the 17u level than Team Durant’s Cam Ward. Ward — the 6-foot-7, 210-pound four-star power forward from Largo (MD) — is averaging a whopping 27.0 points through the first four days of the tournament.
What’s most impressive is Ward has scored from all three levels. He’s sunk mid-range jumpers in the high post, finished layups on drives to the basket, as well as knocked down shots from the perimeter. The forward is shooting an efficient 41-of-53 (77.4% from the field) and 3-of-6 from 3-point range.
“Last year I kind of needed someone to hand me the ball in order to score,” Ward said. “This year I’m making my own plays off the dribble, even making sure my teammates are involved with me. That’s probably the major thing I’ve worked on this summer.”
So far at Peach Jam, that’s certainly shown.
As for Ward’s recruitment, he has most recently taken an official visit to Marquette at the end of June. He said the visit was “amazing.” “Energy, energy, energy,” Ward said of the visit. “Coach [Shaka] Smart, he makes guys want to be great. And I can see myself playing for him just because we have the same energy. We have the same ideas when it comes to basketball and off the court. So for me, he was like, ‘Man, if you come in here with energy it’s going to help you.’ And then if you want to end up being in the NBA or something like that, if you have energy you’ll always get there. That’s just what he was telling me about.” Ward also liked the Marquette campus and said Milwaukee is a cool city. “It’s a calm city,” Ward said “It reminds me of home. It’s real calm, not much going on. But at the end of the day, it’s always a good feeling there.” The forward has previously taken official visits to Florida State (September 2023) and Notre Dame (October 2023). He briefly broke down those two schools and his visit: Notre Dame: “Coach [Micah] Shrewsberry, that’s my guy. All the coaches there. When I took my visit the atmosphere was crazy. It’s a great atmosphere up there, especially during football season. Everything just makes sense with them, you know what I’m saying. They have an organization that’s on the rise. But I mean I think this [upcoming] year it will show what they have in the second year.” Florida State: “Took the visit. Coach [Leonard] Hamilton is a great coach, you know what I’m saying. He gets these guys like me into the league. That stands out for me and I think that’s where — he strives at long, lengthy wings that can play all-around. So he gets those guys into the league.” At Peach Jam, Ward said he’s planning a trip to Penn State in August as well as officials with Michigan State and Texas. “Those are the main ones I have locked in right now as far as the official visits,” Ward said. “And then after that, I’ll look to edit my list and go from there.” Ward broke down some of those programs, including others in the mix like Kansas State, Maryland, Georgetown, Oregon and Arkansas. Michigan State: “[Tom Izzo], that guy is amazing. He’s a legendary hall-of-fame coach. So it means the world that he’s recruiting me. I just want to make the most out of him recruiting me, ask him some things just to see where he’s at.” Maryland: “Coach [Kevin] Willard, coach [David] Cox. And it’s the hometown team. They’ll always be high on my list just because of that.” Georgetown: “Also hometown. Coach [Ed] Cooley, he’s a guy. He wants guys like him that wants to win, plays competitive. So I love him for that.” Oregon: “Coach [Louis] Rowe, out west. It would be something knew but it would be something I definitely want to do. And they play fast, up and down. So that’s something I’m able to do.” Arkansas: “It’s a great place to be. I’ve actually been down there before for an unofficial. And those guys just make the best of everything down there. Basketball, football. Especially now that they have coach [John] Calipari there.” Has Calipari reached out?: “Coach Cal has reached out, yes sir.” All of these programs had representation courtside for Ward during the live period.Top 17u Peach Jam scorers currently…
— Sam Lance (@slancehoops) July 16, 2024
Cam Ward — 27.0
Kiyan Anthony — 23.3
Tounde Yessoufou — 23.7
Cam Boozer — 22.7
Jerry Easter — 22.5
Legend Smiley — 22.5
AJ Dybantsa — 22
Jalen Haralson — 21
Jasper Johnson — 21
Mahki Leach — 21
Kayden Mingo — 20.5
Jadyn Harris — 20
Brayden…
Look out for a top seven schools list from Ward soon. Follow Sam Lance on Twitter Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram And Like ZAGS on FacebookIt’s a packed house for a 12 p.m. showdown of @teamdurant_AAU vs. @TheMacIrvinFire.
— Sam Lance (@slancehoops) July 13, 2024
Head coaches include: Bruce Pearl, Hubert Davis, Shaka Smart, Tony Bennett, Rick Barnes, Eric Musselman, Adrian Autry, Steve Pikiell, Kevin Willard, Steve Lutz, Leonard Hamilton, Danny Sprinkle,… pic.twitter.com/6QnLm74u0D
