Penn State Basketball

Penn State Basketball Adds Commitment from Canadian ‘24 Prospect

Joe Smeltzer

Published

January 31, 2024

Photo by Penn State Athletics: Mike Rhoades

Penn State basketball has received its fourth commitment from the 2024 recruiting.

It’s Hudson Ward, a three-star, 6-foot-7, 210-pounder from Edmonton.

.@hudsonwardd (’24) has committed to Penn State Basketball (@PennStateMBB).#WeAre pic.twitter.com/Tb5hrmHyHT

— Western Canada Prep Academy MBB (@wcpambb) January 31, 2024

Ward is an Edmonton native who plays at Western Canada Prep Academy. The Maple Minute recruiting has him as Canada’s top unsigned prospect.

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Penn State offered Ward four days before Christmas. Along with Penn State, Ward also has offers from Albany, Chattanooga, Florida Gulf Coast, Long Beach State, New Mexico, Rice, San Diego, San Jose State and UT-Arlington. He also had interest from schools such as Boise State, Buffalo, Missouri, Marquette and Wisconsin. TMM wrote in December that he has a “very strong case for the Canadian Player of the Year award which has been awarded to the likes of David Simon, Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe & Leonard Miller.”

“Ward, who plays for Western Canada Prep Academy, has been dominating the competition in the Grind Session and the Tarkanian Classic,” TMM wrote, “two of the most prestigious high school basketball events in the country. He has shown a versatile skill set, a high basketball IQ, and a killer instinct that has impressed scouts and coaches alike.”

Ward competed in the 2022 FIBA World Cup for Canada’s under-17 team. He averaged more than 17 minutes per game and shot 40 percent from 3.

In an interview with On3 last year, Ward said he sees himself as a player who’s best either at shooting guard or small forward.

“I am bigger,” he said, “but I can handle it really well, and my shooting has been very consistent this season. I’ve been working hard on my shot, so my three has really developed over the last few months. I’ve been getting more comfortable with my handle, getting downhill, too.”