Cooper Ward of the Medicine Hat Rattlers during ACAC basketball action. (Photo From Facebook/Medicine Hat College Rattlers)

By Jacob Varcoe

Australian baller making large impact with Rattlers

Feb 13, 2023 | 4:24 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Many athletes make life-changing moves around the world to pursue dreams of playing sports on the grandest stages. A Medicine Hat basketball star is following the same path.

Cooper Ward is a six-foot-six big man for the Medicine Hat Rattlers men’s basketball team. The Rattler is from Ipswich, Australia, and came to Canada to play basketball, spending time at Cape Breton University before making the move to Medicine Hat in July.

Ward has been enjoying his time in Medicine Hat, praising the Rattlers staff, his teammates, and the community in the city.

“My time in the city has been nothing short of amazing, it’s been great,” said Ward on Monday.

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“I had guys like Patrick Sharp, coach Rich messaging me, people in the community messaging me, reaching out.”

The centre/power forward has taken on a large role with his new team, putting up impressive stats in his first season with the Rattlers. He currently leads the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference in minutes per game, rebounds, and points, he’s also third in assists.

He’s got his eyes set on playing professional basketball at the highest level.

“At the end of the day, obviously, I want to play pro,” said Ward.

“I want to get paid to play the game I love, then, becoming a teacher is plan B.”

He looks up to some of the NBA’s top talents, with a particular interest in Nikola Jokic, the back-to-back reigning league MVP. Ward looks up to the Nuggets’ centre so much that he emulates his game.

“He’s a wonderful passer as a big man and I feel like I am too, I feel like I can dictate where the ball should go,” said Ward.

“I try to really figure out how is he doing this, how is he doing that. If I can replicate some of those things on the court it’s definitely going to help.”

As of Feb. 23, Ward is third in assists in the ACAC, while Jokic is third in assists in the NBA. The Australia-born Rattler has played in 21 games this season, averaging 25.3 points and 12.2 rebounds per game.