DREAM BECOMES COURT REALITY
YOUNG point guard Jalen Ward is leaving no stone unturned as he plans to make the biggest Euro-step in his career.
The former Townsville Heat rookie will pack his bags in September to take up an opportunity in the US junior college system.
After a painstaking wait, made more troubling by the impacts of COVID-19, Ward finally committed himself to Chicago’s Olive Harvey College for the 2020/21 season.
Ward passed up the opportunity to earn a living from basketball, shunning an offer from an NBL1 North outfit, to follow in the footsteps of close friend Harry Froling by chasing a US college dream.
“This is the best of both worlds,” Ward said. “I was thinking about going pro and hiring an agent, but I thought the best thing would be to get a degree and play high-level basketball.
“I think it will be more beneficial to me in the long term. As a professional athlete you are only one major injury away from ending your career. You need to have that back up plan.” Ward received about eight different college offers but it was the high level of communication and experience of Olive Harvey head coach Brandon Moore that attracted most.
But before he gets to the US, Ward is working overtime with Heat strength and conditioning guru Brent Gorriss after getting advice from star guard Josh Wilcher.
“Before officially signing and talking to different schools it was hard to get motivated to keep training, and with the coronavirus thing there was a lot of questions,” he said. “But I just really want to get better and improve myself on the court. Josh Wilcher has also been a big driver for me, he has been in my ear for a while now. He got me into a lot of strength training, he is like a big brother to me and a mentor.
“I have got a program in place with Brent. We are working six days each week, with strength and biometric training and then court sessions. At the moment a lot of it has to be done from home but I am still committed to it.”
Heat coach Rodney Anderson, who gave Ward his first start in the state league last season, said he was proud to see the young guard chasing his dreams overseas.
Anderson has also worked closely with Ward over the past six months improving his game on the court and completely redeveloping his shot technique.
“He has been a kid that you love having around,” Anderson said. “He is always there and always working hard. He is hungry to get better and hungry to play the game.
“I am really happy to see that he got a scholarship.”