Gavin Ward has played with the Men’s Basketball program at USC-Salkehatchie. He has used the experience as a place to grow as a student, an athlete, and a person. He will begin the second chapter of his college career at William & Mary. Ward, a Charleston, South Carolina, native and business major, played for USC-Salkehatchie under Head Coach Matt Lynch. During the 2025 season, his performance caught the attention of William & Mary’s basketball staff. After watching Ward play several times, the college offered him a name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreement to join its basketball program for the 2026 season. It is believed to be the first individual NIL agreement secured by a USC Salkehatchie student-athlete.In their press release, Coach Lynch said, “To start, Gavin is a phenomenal person, student, and basketball player. “He was an absolute pleasure to have in our program, and I couldn’t be more excited to follow his career moving forward. Gavin took full advantage of the opportunity in front of him, both on and off the court, and his journey is a perfect example of everything that is right about the junior college system.” Ward said Salkehatchie taught him to be grateful for what he has and to appreciate each opportunity placed before him. His favorite memory is simply having the chance to play the sport he loves alongside his teammates.
