Recruiting Report: Tyrell Ward (2022)

Tyrell Ward Tyrell Ward 6'7" | SF DeMatha | 2022 State #56 Nation MD is coming into his own. The 6-foot-7 175-pound junior averaged 18 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks per game at The St. James NIBC Invitational while leading DeMatha to a 2-0 record. Ward has embraced a bigger role and is playing consistently harder as a result. 

"Last year, I felt like I could get away with not having a high motor all the time," Ward told Prep Hoops. "Because not everybody was really looking at me like they are now. They were looking at Hunter [Dickinson] and Earl [Timberlake]. But I’ve stepped that part of my game up."

Ward’s progression has been gradual, but steady. He was a football player at first and only started taking basketball seriously after hitting a growth spurt that saw him sprout from 5-foot-4 to 6-foot-2 in middle school. Breaking through at DeMatha is very difficult, but Ward wouldn’t have it any other way. 

"I feel like it’s not really difficult to me. I really love the experience," Ward stated. "Coach Jones makes it tough on us. I wouldn’t want a coach that makes it easy on me. I like when a coach gives me a challenge. At first, I wasn’t playing a lot. So I had to put my nose in the dirt and just work."

One thing Ward evidently worked on this summer was his shooting. His form is more compact, and the results have been positive despite a small sample size. Ward shot 54% from the field, 40% from three, and 80% from the foul line at the NIBC per Legit Stats. 

Schools such as Georgia, Seton Hall, Georgetown, LSU, and Virginia Tech are currently involved in Ward’s recruitment. What is he looking for in a college program?

"I like a school that plays at a fast pace. Let me play my game in the open court and do what I do."