Tides player gets full ride to Division I school
Mathias Ward verbally commits to play for Grizzlies
Jacob Adams / of the Gateway
Published: October 17th, 2007 12:35 PM
Mathias Ward has recorded a first for Gig Harbor High School hoops.
The Tides senior forward became the first Tides basketball player ever to earn a full-ride NCAA Division I scholarship after verbally committing to the University of Montana two weeks ago.
“It feels good to get the whole recruiting process over with,” said Ward, who chose the Grizzlies over Weber State. “It’s good knowing that I get four years of schooling paid for. I think it will be really fun playing against Division I players and going to the next level.”
After seeing Ward play during tournaments in Las Vegas and Los Angeles with his club team Total Package last July, UM showed lots of interest in the talented big man. Ward had offers from other schools and made visits but hadn’t found a school he liked until making an official visit on Sept. 30 to Missoula, Mont.
“Once I got on campus, I liked it a lot better,” Ward said. “I had to go there. I liked the community as far as it’s an athletics community. I also liked the coaches and the team members.”
After a campus tour, Ward met with the dean of the business school, the athletic director and went to the Grizzlies’ homecoming football game.
Now that Ward’s college future is secured, he said that lessens the pressure the Tides have for their upcoming basketball season.
“It takes the pressure off of me as far as getting a scholarship,” he said. “But I still want to do the best I can and go as far as we can.”
Ward’s rise to Division I status has been quite a ride for his parents Stephanie and Brian. Mathias started playing basketball in middle school with dreams of playing Division I hoops.
“When Mathias told me that was his goal in middle school,” Stephanie said, “I thought it was a pipe dream. But we always encouraged him to keep playing and trying hard.”
The third oldest of seven children, Mathias used hard work to get his scholarship. He linked up with Total Package in high school and worked vigorously to improve the weak spots in his game in order to interest Division I coaches.
Mathias even handled the recruiting process by himself.
“We’re very pleased with what he’s done,” Stephanie said. “I told him I’m very proud of how he handled this whole recruiting process. It’s a very difficult process to navigate. I’m proud of the manner in which he has handled himself.”
Brian Ward added that he thinks his son made the right choice in going to UM.
“The Grizzlies are the only thing that’s happening there, so that’s good,” he said.
Another element for Ward is the fact he’s currently taking running start classes and will earn his associate of arts degree when he graduates from high school in June. He can earn a master’s degree by the time his four years of college eligibility are up.
Ward intends to study business while at Montana. When asked about the prospects of an NBA career, he laughed and said: “We’ll see how college goes first, I guess.”
