Michigan State Basketball: Nick Ward finally gets opportunity with Hawks

Nick Ward left Michigan State basketball a year early to pursue his NBA dreams, but went undrafted. He’s now getting a chance with the Hawks.

The wait is over. Nick Ward entered the NBA draft after his sophomore year and decided to come back in order to improve his stock.

A year later and he found himself undrafted following the process, which may have been different had he not broken his hand against Ohio State in the final month of the regular season. He may have held his starting job and continued his rise up draft boards with an improved jump shot as well as defense.

However, he faced an uphill battle in the draft process, worked out for a couple of teams and went two rounds on Thursday night without hearing his name called.

On Friday evening, he became a member of the Hawks’ organization — for now.

While the deal isn’t to be on the active roster, it gives him a chance to prove himself in the NBA Summer League like the rest of the incoming rookie class.

It’s hard to believe he wasn’t a lock to get drafted after witnessing him break out as a freshman in 2016-17. He was one of the Big Ten’s top big men and continued that success in 2017-18, but wasn’t as efficient or productive. He started the 2018-19 season red-hot but fizzled out after his injury and wasn’t able to show his progress consistently.

The former MSU big will get a chance to make a roster in Atlanta that has needs just about everywhere.

Ward now joins Matt McQuaid as the only two Spartans — waiting on Kenny Goins — who have signed deals after the NBA draft process.