Barbadian Basketball Star Hason Ward Debuts with Sacramento Kings in NBA California Classic Summer League

This weekend marks an important new chapter in the career of rising Barbadian basketball star Hason Ward. The 23-year-old forward is expected to play in his first game for the Sacramento Kings after recently signing on to the franchise for the NBA California Classic Summer League.

His first game, set to be aired on ESPN, will be on Saturday against the Los Angeles Lakers, featuring rookie LeBron James Jr, at the Chase Center, in San Francisco, California. Over the course of four days, his team will also go up against the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat.

The 6’9″ forward, who hails from St. Thomas, Barbados, is a recent graduate of Iowa State University.

He will remain with the team for the upcoming NBA2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas. The NBA2K25 Summer League, takes place 12-22 July at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Prior to the recent NBA Draft, Ward had worked out for several teams. After showcasing his talents to team executives in Cleveland, Memphis, and Toronto, he held his fourth and final visit with the New York Knicks.

It feels like a long way from Lester Vaughan Secondary School, and that’s because it already has been quite the trip for this young man. In 2015, he visited Massachusetts with his father. High school coach Darryl Denson recruited the then 14-year-old, who then flew off to Springfield Central High School in January 2016.

Fast-forward two years, and Ward was on a full scholarship at Virginia Commonwealth University, studying sports medicine. During his time in Massachusetts, he helped the Golden Eagles to the MIAA State Division I Quarterfinals and a pair of Western Massachusetts titles, having once blocked 22 shots in a game as a junior.

Upon transferring to Iowa State, besides switching his major to sociology, Ward helped the Cyclones to a pair of NCAA Tournaments, including a trip to the Sweet 16 this past season. He appeared in 28 games and started the first three games of the year before suffering a foot injury that forced him to miss nine games.

In 51 career games at Iowa State, Ward averaged 4.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, while blocking 43 shots and tallying 45 steals. He recorded a season-high 13 points against No. 1 Houston in Iowa State’s 69-41 victory over the Cougars in the Big 12 Championship game.