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Cyclones get key post addition for 22-23 campaign

Bill Seals • CycloneReport
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@williamseals

Iowa State added another piece to the puzzle for next season on Saturday night by securing a commitment from VCU forward transfer Hason Ward.

The 6-foot-9, 215-pound post player announced the news on his Instagram page. He will have as many as two season of eligibility remaining if he elects to take his free Covid year.

A native of St. Thomas, Barbados, Ward averaged 6.5 points and 4.8 rebounds as a junior in 2021-22. He started 24 of 29 gams and averaged 20.3 minutes per game.

He opened the season with 14 points and nine rebounds against a St. Peter's team that would go on to play in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. In another non-conference game against Baylor, he scored six points and grabbed six rebounds in 28 minutes.

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He played in 79 games over a three-year span at VCU and made 35 starts, posting a career average of 5.4 points and 4.1 rebounds.

Ward compiled the 10th-best defensive rating in country this past season. As a sophomore in 2020-21, he posted the seventh-best block percentage nationally.

A member of the Rams' 2019 recruiting class, Ward was a three-star prospect and considered the nation's #43 power forward. He picked VCU over offers from Georgia, UMass, Rutgers and others in the mid-major ranks.

Ward gives the Cyclones an important piece in the front court, especially with the status of Tre King still up in the air to open the season. He will join Aljaž Kunc, Robert Jones and Demarion Watson as forwards on Iowa State's roster for head coach T.J. Otzelberger's second season at the helm.

Hason Ward pulls down a rebound against Syracuse in a non-conference game last November.
Hason Ward pulls down a rebound against Syracuse in a non-conference game last November. (Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)
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