Top 4 landing spots for 4-star recruit Cam Ward ft. Michigan State 

By Aman Sharma

Modified Oct 09, 2024 14:58 GMT

Cam Ward, a 6'7" small forward from Washington D.C., is one of the top-ranked recruits in the class of 2025. With his athleticism and versatility, Ward has caught the attention of several elite college basketball programs.

Rated No. 53 in ESPN’s Top 100 and No. 50 by 247Sports, Ward recently cut his recruitment to four schools: Michigan State, Maryland, Kansas State and Virginia.

Top 4 landing spots for 4-star recruit Cam Ward

#4 Kansas State

Kansas State has made a strong case for Cam Ward’s commitment due to their resurgence under head coach Jerome Tang.

The Wildcats went 19-15 last season in the highly competitive Big 12 Conference. With an offense that averaged 72.2 points per game and a shooting percentage of 43.6% from the field, Kansas State is a team on the rise.

#3 Virginia

Virginia, known for its disciplined, defense-oriented approach under head coach Tony Bennett, has consistently been one of the top programs in the ACC. Ward visited Virginia in early September.

Virginia is looking to fill its final scholarship spot for the 2025-2026 season. Ward would complement their 2025 recruiting class, which already includes four-star point guard Chance Mallory.

#2 Maryland

Maryland, Ward’s hometown school, has been a long-standing contender in his recruitment. While his relationship with Maryland was described as “up-and-down,” assistant coach David Cox has made significant strides to repair that connection over the past two years.

Cam Ward visited Maryland officially in late September and expressed respect for the program’s efforts to reconnect.

“They’ve been making a lot of things to try to make up for lost time, so I can respect that. And also, I can also respect that it’s nothing lost. I can be like we can move past it and build the relationship from there."

#1 Michigan State

The Spartans are renowned for their success under head coach Tom Izzo. He has led the team to 37 NCAA Tournament appearances, 10 Final Four berths and two national championships.

Michigan State’s family-oriented culture, aligns with Ward's desire for a supportive environment. He told On3's Joe Tipton:

"One, having a family aspect is big for me. Two, having a development plan for me that is going to be consistent. I don’t want to show up and then just be on my own. I want tough love and tough coaching. So those two things and then of course a degree. I want to get a degree that is going to help me outside of basketball."

Cam Ward is the reigning D.C. Gatorade Player of the Year. He averaged 26 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.7 steals, 2.4 assists and 2.1 blocks per game, leading Largo High School to a 2A state championship.