Cameron Lard, former Iowa State basketball player, vies for fresh start after dropped charges

Belinda Lard had always known her son, Cameron, would stand out.

Her two daughters and other son never grew over 5 feet 9 inches. Cameron Lard, however, sprouted to 6 feet by the time he reached eighth grade in the mid-2000s.

She couldn’t keep her athletically inclined son off the field and courts. He tried baseball and basketball. But by the time he set out to play football, his mother had seen enough.

“I told him ‘Son this is not for you,’” said Belinda Lard, recalling the path-changing  conversation she had with him. “‘Basketball is it.’”

Cameron Lard, now 23 years old and 6 feet 9 inches, quickly ascended in the basketball world. He would leave his hometown Natchitoches, La. in 2017 to play at Iowa State in Ames. He averaged 12.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks a game his rookie season.

Some off-court issues hampered his sophomore campaign. Lard lost his starting spot, averaged 5.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks and ended up leaving Iowa State in 2019.

Lard endeavored to play professionally, working out in the NBA summer league, G League and internationally. He finally landed in the Dominican Republic in 2019, playing for Pueblo Nuevo. His team made it to the finals. Then COVID hit.

The  pandemic, however, would not be the only circumstance to derail his career.

On June 1, 2020, the Iowa District Court charged  Lard with unlawful assembly and failure to disperse as an alleged member of a group who assembled in wake of the George Floyd protests in Des Moines, Iowa.

Now, after more than a year, the Iowa District Court dropped Lard’s charges on July 29. Lard is hopeful the clean slate can rejuvenate his to chance to play professionally, which was obliterated  by the charges.

Lard’s reputation suffered the most. Teams saw the charges and would peg him as problematic.

Despite that reality, Lard is in a positive place after the verdict. 

“It’s a relief now that it’s all over,” Lard said. “Now I can continue to focus on basketball.”

Lard plans to focus on what’s in his control to recover from the setback. He will hire an agent who will vouch for him as a person and handle his brand and time. He will also play more assertively.   

“Once I get on the court, my game speaks for itself,” Lard said. “I know I can play at the NBA level. I’m more concerned about the outside stuff.”

Belinda Lard is less concerned about outside distractions. They’ve been through a lot, she said, but her son has matured and is ultimately a good, respectful person who is eager to learn.

“I thank God it [the verdict] did turn out like this because he is innocent,” Belinda Lard said. “We’ve come a long way. Someone’s just got to give him a break.”

True to form, Cameron Lard’s trainer Dre Hicks is more concerned about Lard developing physically and as a player. Lard has gotten back into shape after being out a while and grown offensively, Hicks said.

Lard is inquisitive, a good listener, enjoyable to be around and has a great sense of humor, Hicks said. Despite the rollercoaster start to his basketball career, Lard is ready for the next level, he added. 

“If anyone has any doubts about him professionally, take a chance on him.” Hicks said. “He’s ready to go.”