WASHINGTON – Michigan State men’s basketball advancing to the NCAA Tournament East Regional meant a little more to Spartans freshmen Jordan Scott and Cam Ward. As a result, they will be playing close to home, in the nation’s capital.

Scott and Ward both grew up in the DMV area and rose through the AAU circuits, playing together since the second grade.

“[Scott] is probably my best friend on the team, we share a lot of memories, a lot of moments together, and when we found out we were in the east bracket, it was just a lot of extra motivation,” Ward said. 

Ward was fired up after the win against Louisville on Sunday, and burst out ‘We’re going to D.C.!’ like a seven-year-old that just got the news they’re going to Disney for the first time.

The two have continued to share a close bond, as they are roommates on campus in East Lansing and on road trips as well.

“I have mostly been talking to Cam, just going back and forth sharing our experiences with [playing at home],” Scott said.

There is a rare type of joy that both of these players have on the court, and with the circumstances this weekend, it has been turned up a notch.

“I am just happy at the fact of being able to come back home and have a show for the home crowd,” Ward said.

Ward played for Kevin Durant’s AAU team and had the opportunity to play on the Capital One Arena court during halftime of a Wizards game against Golden State when Durant was on the Warriors.

“It’s definitely a full circle moment because that’s everything you dreamed of, especially as a kid, coming from here, there’s no better way, especially in my freshman year, having an impact,” Ward said. 

With how much both players have progressed this season, it’s hard to believe they played each other in high school last year. In that game, Ward got the best of Scott in the only high school matchup they played. 

Ward and Scott aren’t just from the same area; they have very similar families that are deeply committed to basketball.

Scott’s parents, Christy Winters-Scott and Jerome Scott, played high-level Division I basketball. Winters-Scott is second in all-time scoring at Maryland and in the Terrapins Athletics Hall of Fame. Jerome played four years at Miami in the 1990s.

Ward’s parents, Rodney and Ayana, are both coaches for men’s and women’s basketball in the DMV area.

MSU head coach Tom Izzo has credited the freshmen’s deep roots in basketball towards their development at the collegiate level.

“They both have incredible families and can you imagine how proud and excited those parents are? Cam’s mom and dad are both coaches and Jordan’s mom and dad both played at a high level; it’s storybook,” Izzo said.

Winters-Scott has been very involved with the team, traveling to most games when her schedule allows it, as she also is a women’s basketball analyst for the Big Ten Network. 

Scott has progressed from a freshman getting limited minutes to one a freshman starting in the Sweet 16. Luckily for Winters-Scott, she was there to see her son make his first start.

“I was at that Minnesota game and that was his first start,” Winters-Scott said. “Izzo was sitting there and turned around. He invited me down to the bench and he said, ‘Your son is starting his first collegiate game tonight, he’s prepared. It’s going to be a challenge, but he’s ready for it, and I’m glad you’re here’ That’s still like an ocean wave of emotions for me, but that was really special to see in person and just such a blessing to see in person.”

On the day of open practices, Winters-Scott wasn’t in attendance as a fan of her son but as a media member. She interviewed her son in the locker room after practices; a priceless moment for their family.

Winters-Scott still can’t believe her son is starting for the Spartans in his first year with the squad, as the younger member of the team.

“Early in the season, he was still coming off the bench, but Coach Izzo would have him in at really critical times of the game and I thought back to when I coached, if I had a kid out there, I trusted that kid, so that made me feel even more honored to watch him in that space, knowing that he had earned the trust of a coach like Izzo,” Winters-Scott said.

The homecoming allows Scott’s parents to stay at home this weekend and still make the trip to the games.

Winters-Scott was ecstatic when it was announced Michigan State would be in the Washington region, as it meant her family, especially her mom, could be at the games to see Jordan play.

“I just got chills down my arm, it’s such a blessing to be here, and it’s almost like it was written in the stars for both Jordan and Cam to come back and be in front of family and friends since they didn’t play closer than Rutgers and Penn State this season,” Winter-Scott said. 

The freshman’s phones have been off the hook this past week with friends, family members, former coaches, and teammates all reaching out to say they will be in attendance. 

The roommates have been in constant contact, sharing their thoughts heading into the weekend back at home.

“I could show you so many messages of just me and Jordan talking back and forth, sending predictions that we could go home to D.C.,” Ward said. “It’s always been a conversation since the beginning of the season.” 

This isn’t the first time MSU has had a homecoming for a player during the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

Last year, the Spartans played in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga., which was a homecoming for the Stockbridge, Ga. native.

Carr was elevated to the starting lineup for his play against Bryant and New Mexico State and made an instant difference in the Sweet 16 game against Ole Miss, where he had 15 points and was one of the Spartans’ most important factors, leading to an Elite Eight appearance.

Scott hopes a homecoming can reignite his play after he’s been out of sync in recent games.

“I think it can provide a spark, it’s home court, even though it’s not home court, but I’ll still be ready for the game,” Scott said. 

With all the emotions and excitement of the weekend, Ward remains locked in on the Spartans’ primary objective.

“Still trying to keep the main thing, the main thing, just try to win the region here and go to the Final Four. Being home is cool, being here is exciting, but it’s definitely a task at hand that we need to accomplish,” Ward said.

Ward and Scott will be vital pieces for the Spartans and will need to make an imprint in the Sweet 16 matchup against UConn on Friday, March 27, at 9:45 p.m.