Athlete Profile – Central
At 17 years old, Deion Coward of Lake Loon has been playing basketball for nearly a decade, and with each stride he is adding to his family’s lasting impact on basketball in Nova Scotia and beyond.
Selected to play on the Basketball Nova Scotia U17 Boys Team as a point guard for the Canada Games, Deion is excited to represent both his family and province on the national stage.
“It means a lot to me. My whole family has been playing; they’ve been on the team as well. It runs in the family,” says Deion.
Deion’s father Curtis Coward was inducted into the Maritime Sport Hall of Fame in 2017 for his work as an athlete and coach for both basketball and baseball. His siblings Rachelle and Kellen both played basketball at the NCAA Division I level in the United States, and his brother Chase played at the University of Ottawa.
Meanwhile, Deion helped his school team, the Armbrae Ospreys, win the 2024-2025 Capital Region Division 1 Championship and the Provincial Championship. This year also marks the third time he has played for Team Nova Scotia, having competed at nationals twice.
“Deion is not only an exceptional athlete, but an even more outstanding individual,” says Anton Berry, head coach of the 2025 Canada Games Men’s Team. “He consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic, a high level of coachability, and a commitment to excellence — both individually and within our group. I look forward to seeing Deion represent alongside his teammates at the Canada Games, where his leadership and character will no doubt make a meaningful impact.”
And it is at the Canada Games where Deion says it’s their year to bring home a medal.
“The past two years, we’ve definitely had some good teams, and we fell short, but this year I feel like we have all the best talent that we can get,” he says. “People from other provinces are maybe looking down on us a little bit. But I think I love that part because when it’s time for us to go there and win those games, it definitely shows we’ve got talent here too.”
Looking ahead to arriving in Newfoundland and Labrador, Deion is also excited for pin and merchandise trading, cheering on the other Nova Scotian teams and the energy from the crowds.
“This year we have a bunch of different people from Nova Scotia coming to represent. So, they’ll understand that it’ll be good to cheer us on, and I think bringing a big crowd is something that Nova Scotia is going to need in terms of energy. I’m definitely an energy guy. When I see a crowd, I love to get them involved, so that’ll be great.”
The team has been practicing hard to get ready for the Games including a tournament in Montreal. Deion says already they’ve had some great moments where the team’s potential has been through the roof.
Deion’s favourite moments are when his team is on a run, which refers to a period of time when one team significantly outscores the other.
“You know, obviously basketball is a game of runs and when it goes well for your team, it can be so energetic. It can really make my day. You know, sometimes when I am driving, or when I’m home, I think about the games I played that day or ones from before and those great moments. I still think about games back at East Preston.”
Off the court, Deion credits basketball for giving him the opportunity to form lasting friendships and helping him stay on track in life.
