Michigan State junior Nick Ward declares for NBA draft, not returning next season

Chris Solari
Detroit Free Press

EAST LANSING — Michigan State basketball’s Nick Ward has entered his name in the NBA draft for the second straight year.

This time, the junior power forward has retained the services of an agent, per his Friday afternoon post on Instagram. And a release from the school says Ward does not plan to return for 2019-20.

“First off I want to thank God for giving me this opportunity,” Ward wrote. “These last 3 seasons at Michigan State have been incredible for me. I have been able to become not only a better basketball player but also a better man. I want to thank Coach Izzo and the entire coaching staff for believing in me and pushing me to be better everyday. I want to thank all the fans for the love and support and I also want to thank my teammates for helping me each and everyday.

“After consulting with the coaching Staff and my family I have decided to take the next step to pursue my lifelong dream of playing in the NBA by declaring for the 2019 NBA Draft. I have also hired an agent. Thank Spartan nation for everything. I will forever be a spartan! #GoGreen”

Ward earned third-team All-Big Ten honors this season after averaging 12.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 20.8 minutes per game. The 6-foot-9, 245-pound 21-year old missed five games with a broken hand, then came off the bench during the postseason in limited minutes while wearing a special brace to protect his surgically repaired shooting hand.

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A year ago, Ward tested the process without an agent and went through workouts with NBA teams before returning for his third year with the Spartans. Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson Jr. both remained in last year’s draft and were lottery picks.

Newly adopted NCAA rules would permit Ward to return for the 2019-20 season if he removes his name from the draft pool and severs ties with the agent by May 29, which is 10 days after the end of the NBA scouting combine in Chicago. However, he told the school he does not plan to come back. 

"Nick went through the draft process last year and gained some valuable information," MSU coach Tom Izzo said in a release. "When he made the decision to return for his junior season, I made one request that he be fully committed to our team and program. Nick did everything I asked and more, improving as a player and becoming a better teammate. I was impressed with his attitude and commitment as well as the way he grew his game throughout the whole year. I also knew Nick's desire to begin his pro career following his junior season, and I'm fully supportive of his decision.

"He has worked very hard over the last three years to put himself in this position and I look forward to helping him reach his dreams."

In 104 career games, Ward scored 1,359 points, a 13.1 per game average that ranks No. 26 all-time in school history. He shot 60.5%, which ranks fifth all-time at MSU.

"I've learned so much at Michigan State and am thankful to the coaches and my teammates for helping me become a better player and a better person and reach a lifelong goal of getting to a Final Four," Ward said in the MSU release. "Based on the feedback I got last year and discussions with Coach Izzo, I'm ready for this challenge and look forward to this next chapter. I am a Spartan for life."

Ward's departure now frees up one more scholarship for Izzo to add another player to his roster for next season. MSU has signed guard Mark (Rocket) Watts and swingman Malik Hall, and it expects to sign power forward Julius Marble next week.

Contact Chris Solari at csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Read more on the Michigan State Spartans and sign up for our Spartans newsletter.