Terrance (TJ) Ford

11/10/00: SIGNED WITH TEXAS

2/17/01:
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/826320

11/18:
Recruiters hit jackpot with Willowridge trio
By SARAH HORNADAY Copyright 2000 Houston Chronicle

With the Willowridge cheerleaders doing a cheer in front of them, T.J. Ford, Daniel Ewing and Kenny Taylor took a collective sigh of relief as they finalized the biggest decision of their young lives.

"It's nice now that it's official and there's no second guessing," Ford said. "This pretty much takes a lot of pressure off," Taylor said.

Ford, Ewing and Taylor play for the Willowridge basketball team, the defending Class 5A state champions. All three signed this month with Division I colleges -- Ewing with Duke, Ford with Texas and Taylor with Baylor.

While multiple Division I signings are commonplace for other sports, having three Division I players on the same team -- and at the same position -- is a rarity in basketball.

Even though they signed in November, the road toward signing day began during their junior years at Willowridge and moved into high gear in June, the first time college coaches could make phone contact with prospective recruits.

All three were ranked among the best senior guards in Texas. Ford, a point guard, came into the summer with a national reputation. Ewing, a shooting guard who will be used as a combination point guard/shooting guard in college, earned one by the end of the summer. Taylor, a shooting guard with one of the sweetest shots in the area, didn't make all the national lists but still was considered one of the best in the state. All three got what only a few special players get out of the recruiting process.

Basketball recruiting is an ever-changing dynamic. The best place to be seen isn't on the high school courts during the school year, but with a traveling team during the summer.

The NCAA wants to give more control to high school programs by shortening the evaluation period during the summer. But for many, the three weeks during the summer is their main audition for a scholarship.

The biggest stages are the Nike All-American camp in Indianapolis and the Adidas ABCD camp in Hackensack, N.J. National tournaments in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Orlando, Fla., also serve as opportunities for coaches to watch players that caught their eyes elsewhere.

The summer evaluation period is similar to a fraternity mixer. Coaches size up players, picking and choosing who they want to dance with. It can be an unnerving atmosphere for players who think they need to be a human highlight reel for three weeks.

The ABCD and All-American camps are at the beginning of the summer evaluation period, followed by large national tournaments.

ABCD was the first stop for Ford, Ewing and Taylor, followed by tournaments in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The players had a few days at home in between, but for the most part they were on the road playing every day throughout the month of July.

The ABCD camp lasted four days with two games per day. Three of those days at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey were in front of an audience that at one time or another included representatives from every Division I program in the country.

You name the coach, he was there at some point, dressed in something that designated his school. Everyone, that is, but Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson, who was in golfing attire right down to the straw hat.

As they watched games on four courts stretched across one gymnasium, the coaches were on display as much as the players. The coaches wanted to make a good impression as much as the players wanted to impress the coaches.

T.J. Ford was the underclassman MVP at the 1999 ABCD camp, which was his coming-out party as a top national prospect to watch. Alton Ford from Milby, now a freshman at the University of Houston, won the same award during his high school days.

T.J. Ford roamed the courts of Fairleigh Dickinson like a political candidate working a room of supporters. He had friends on every court and seemed oblivious to the throng of coaches watching him play.

Ford understands that how well you play at ABCD is all about rankings, not scholarships. He had nothing to prove at ABCD Camp and simply had fun. With an All-American team around him, Ford just played a role and didn't get into the selfish, offensive-oriented atmosphere.

"I don't think there's pressure," Ford said. "I've been here before and traveled a lot. I don't worry about (the college coaches). If I don't play well today, I'll play well tomorrow."

Though his statistics didn't improve from last season, there wasn't a coach at that camp who was swayed from recruiting the 6-foot guard. Texas had a single-minded approach about Ford that never faltered. Wherever Ford played, there was a Texas coach -- or two -- watching him.

"During that (three-week) time period, just by playing you're going to get noticed by some colleges," Ford said. "Make-or-break is for writers. They're the ones that judge you. If they don't think you play well, they have something negative to say. If you don't get too caught up in it, if you can take negative criticism, you will be OK."

Daniel Ewing played at ABCD last year but missed making the final day's All-Star game because of an injury. He wanted to make an impact and get to that game this year.

Kenny Taylor was attending his first camp. Unlike Ewing and T.J. Ford, whose names had appeared higher on national ranking lists, Taylor wanted to get the national recognition that had eluded him.

The first day of ABCD camp was a rough one for Ewing and Taylor, who were on separate teams from Ford and came to realize, if they didn't know already, how important it is to have a point guard of Ford's quality looking out for you.

Ewing scored eight points while shooting 32 percent from the field. Taylor scored four points and shot 28 percent, including 0-for-3 from 3-point range.

The games at ABCD camp aren't about winning for most players. They're about showing latest moves or simply showing off. So some find themselves competing against their teammates as much as their opponents.

Neither Ewing nor Taylor had many opportunities in their first games of the camp. That changed after the first game for Ewing, whose coach helped him get more involved in the offense. It was harder for Taylor to get more opportunities, but it wasn't hard to read the disappointment on his face.

"It was tough. You had to get used to how everyone was playing," Taylor said. "Once you get (the ball), you have to do something with it. It was fun, but at the end, it was getting exhausting."

By the last games in Los Angeles, Taylor was suffering from cramps and didn't even play at the end when his team won the tournament.

The breakneck pace of the evaluation period is another reason coaches use it as a tool, but not the last word, on deciding a player's worth.

Texas coach Rick Barnes, in fact, doesn't view the three-week evaluation as the pressure-filled audition it's billed to be.

"I don't know if I put a lot of stock in one camp or one performance," Barnes said. "I don't think coaches get enough credit. I try and evaluate decision-making, not scoring."

While the three weeks don't make or break a player, they can definitely set players apart. Though Ewing got off to a slow start at ABCD camp, he rebounded and earned a spot on the ABCD senior all-star team. That was just the beginning of Ewing's summer show, which climaxed with him being ranked the No. 5 off-guard in the country by The Sporting News.

Ewing played well in the Las Vegas Big Time tournament but picked it up a notch in the Double Pump Best of the Summer Classic in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, Calif. Ewing won the Best of the Summer tournament MVP as his team won the tournament.

After his MVP performance, he returned to Houston and had been back for less than a week before making his decision to play for Duke, which has two national championships and has made it to 12 Final Fours in 24 NCAA Tournament appearances.

"I think that helped him get Duke," said Daniel's father, George. "He exhibited he could play good at all three (events)."

Duke had shown interest the entire time, but Daniel didn't received the treasured phone call from Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski until after returning from Los Angeles. It was the one call Ewing was waiting for, and he didn't need much convincing to go to his "dream school."

In addition to Duke, Ewing had considered Arizona, Kentucky, Syracuse and Georgia Tech. He was faced with the dilemma of whether to choose Kentucky at ABCD Camp but decided not to make a hasty choice without his family around.

Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said he was recruiting Ewing and Rashaad Carruth of Virginia and would take the first one who committed. Carruth held an impromptu press conference and announced his intentions, in effect dropping Kentucky from Ewing's list.

There was no reason not to say yes to Duke when Krzyzewski called, and Ewing didn't hesitate, even though he hadn't officially visited the campus.

Ewing knows all too well the flip side of recruiting, when players court schools rather than vice versa. His brother Lorenzo, who is 10 years older, played at Houston Baptist and Louisiana Tech. His brother Michael played at Cisco Junior College.

George Ewing learned from the experience and made sure Daniel had opportunities his brothers didn't.

"We made a lot of mistakes, and we promised it wouldn't happen again," George said.

Both his brothers played in area summer leagues and participated in the Five-Star recruiting camp before their senior years, but neither could match Daniel's exposure. George Ewing shopped highlight tapes to colleges and called schools in need of players.

While Ewing's parents left the decision-making up to him, they did little things that opened the door for opportunities.

Ewing, who has a 3.5 grade-point average, achieved a qualifying test score as a sophomore. George Ewing knew that waiting until his senior year was too much pressure.

The Ewings also learned the lesson of exposure. The Ewings, who have seen less of the country than their youngest son, didn't balk at Daniel playing on travel teams, knowing the exposure would help his game and his chances of getting a scholarship.

Taylor's decision to attend Baylor was, like Ewing's, uneventful. He waited for an official visit to Baylor before he decided to commit, but it was an easy decision. He had thoughts of Seton Hall but wanted to stay closer to home.

Ford's decision was more complex. He had only four in-home visits (Texas, Houston, Cincinnati and Louisville), but assembling that list was an involved process.

The Fords didn't have any guidance through the process. T.J. is friends with current UH sophomore George Williams but didn't seek much help. He swapped recruiting stories with his friends, but the Fords trudged through the process systematically and alone.

Ford's mother Mary made charts of teams T.J. considered. She looked up articles on the Internet. She would investigate the players already at the school and those who were coming in. She gave T.J. mounds of information so he could make an informed decision.

She never told him what to do but gave her input with enough background information to make the FBI envious. She even came up with distances from Houston and the cost of travel.

"At times I got kind of mad, but it helped a lot," Ford said. "In the end, I knew what they were doing without them knowing. I could ask questions and make my mind up."

While Taylor and Ewing simply announced their oral commitments with a phone call or two, Mary Ford had different ideas for T.J.

She was ready to celebrate the decision with Ford's family and friends in Baytown. She worked for more than a month putting together a 100-page guide of T.J.'s accomplishments, showcasing all the college mail T.J. had received and also assembling memorabilia from the playing days of T.J.'s father and brother. It paid off when more than 100 people came out to hear Ford announce his college choice.

When all was said and done, each Willowridge player had gone about the recruiting process in a different manner. But they all proved that you don't have to follow the same path to get to your destination. - Houston Chronicle

11/8/00: "The story goes that when the recruiting season opened on this year's senior class last Sept. 7, a Cincinnati assistant coach showed up at T.J. Ford's house bright and early at 7am. He was late.
(Because) Texas assistant Rob Lanier was there at 12:01am. "True story," Lanier acknowledged Wednesday. Lanier's first-on-the-doorstep approach paid off Wednesday when the acknowledged No. 1 player in Texas signed a letter of intent with Texas for the second consecutive November." - FT Worth Star article dated 11/8

10/19:
http://www.foxsports.com/highschool/basketball/stories/hs101900tjford1.sml

10/18: "has rendered a verdict. On Wednesday afternoon he announced that he had made a VERBAL COMMITMENT to Rick Barnes' TEXAS Longhorns program. Ford recently told us that he had a great time on each of his four campus visits. The other finalists were Louisville, Cincinnati and Houston. Previously TJ said that the deciding factor would likely be, "fun." "It matters which school I have the most fun at. I need to have a life outside of basketball." - AllStar Report

10/17: "The University of Texas appears close to landing one of its most high-profile men's basketball commitments in years. Point guard T.J. Ford of Sugar Land Willowridge, one of the top recruits in the nation, will announce his college choice Wednesday and indications are it will be the Longhorns. Ford, generally regarded as a national top-20 pick and the quickest player in this year's class, took official recruiting visits to UT, Cincinnati, Louisville and Houston. UT Coach Rick Barnes and school officials are prohibited from discussing recruits until they sign during the Nov. 8-15 signing period. Ford declined to tip his hand Monday -- "People will just have to wait and see," he said -- but a family member, asked if the announcement will make Texas fans happy, replied, "It's a possibility, a good possibility." The announcement will come at a press conference near Ford's boyhood home in Houston. Ford, who stands 5 feet, 11 inches, is renowned for his quickness, which one recruiting service compared to that of the Philadelphia 76ers' Allen Iverson. He also is a tremendous defender and leaper. At this summer's ABCD Camp in Teaneck, N.J., he stopped one game and was mobbed after he gathered in an alley-oop lob with one hand and dunked over a 6-9 defender. Bob Gibbons of the North Carolina-based Bob Gibbons All-Star Report said the top two high school point guards in the nation are Ford and Aaron Miles of Portland, Ore., who is expected to commit to Kansas. "Both are really outstanding, but I personally think T.J.'s the best pure point in this class because he thinks `give it up' instead of `shoot,' '' Gibbons said. ``This would be another major milestone for Rick Barnes. He's continuing to build that program into a national powerhouse." Ford averaged 9.1 points, 9.3 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 4.8 steals per game on a Willowridge team that won the Class 5A state championship last season with a 36-1 record. His teammates included guard Daniel Ewing, who has committed to Duke, and forward Ivan McFarlin, who signed with Oklahoma State." - The Austin American

10/16: "Outstanding PG TJ Ford has reached a decision. He will announce his collegiate destination at a Wednesday press conference in Baytown, TX. Ford is down to four schools, Texas, Cincinnati, Louisville and Houston. He recently completed his final official visit, and a decision is forthcoming. Ford will announce his collegiate destination at a 5:45 p.m. CT press conference at Harlan Elementary in Bayton, TX, on Wednesday." - Rivals100

10/16: "told us his visit to Louisville this past weekend went well.
"I have to speak to my parents before I make a decision," Ford said. "I am going to need some time before I make a decision." Ford said he might have a decision this week. "It depends on how my conversations go with my parents," Ford said. "They are real important in my decision." Ford said he enjoyed meeting the Louisville staff. "I enjoyed meeting coach Crum," Ford said. "I have met him before but this was the first time I could really speak to him one on one in depth." Ford said he spoke to the Louisville staff about the backcourt situation and where he fits in with perhaps future teammate Carlos Hurt. "There are good things and there are bad things," Ford said. "But I have to speak to my parents about them." Ford did not want to reflect on those issues but said he would discuss them with his coach and his parents. Previously, Ford told us his visit to Cincinnati went real good. "I spent a lot of time with the players and asked the players about coach Huggins," Ford said. "The players told me a lot of good things about coach Huggins." Ford said he also spent a lot of time in the gym playing pickup ball. "The team plays hard," Ford remarked. Ford said he liked the campus and the fact that all the classes are in one area of the campus. Ford pointed out that the state of Texas was more spaced out while in Cincinnati it was more condensed. Ford, who wants to major in broadcast journalism, is still working on a qualifying SAT or ACT score. Ford has also visited Texas. Last season, averaged 10 points, nine assists, and four steals. He is very quick and a great defender. Ford had an excellent second half of the summer and is considered a serious candidate for the McDonald's All American game next March at Duke University." - Insiders Report

10/16: "I think this basically comes down to
A) If TJ and his folks want him closer to home; and
B) If they're OK with him going out of state, whether or not they want him with a buddy (Hurt at Louisville) or if they want him at a top flight university with a coach that will take him places he's only dreamed of going on the basketball court
(Cincinnati)." - Forum contributor, Carl Patterson

10/12: "Ford has officially visited the campuses of both Texas and Cincinnati. His other finalist is The University of Louisville. "I'm really excited about visiting Louisville," said Ford, who previously told ASR that he enjoyed his first two campus trips. When questioned again about Louisville and the commitment of combo-guard Carlos Hurt, Ford reiterated that he wasn't worried about that situation. "That doesn't hurt their chances," he added. Ford went on to tell us that the deciding factor is likely to be, "fun." "It matters which school I have the most fun at. I need to have a life outside of basketball." If TJ ever gets tired of playing hoops, he could have a career in broadcasting, as he indicated that he was likely to major in communications at the college level. As a junior TJ averaged 10 points, 9 assists, and 4 steals per game for Willowridge who finished with a record of 36-1, and won the Texas Class 5A-state championship title. While Ford has yet to set a timeline for his decision, he did indicate once again that he would sign a letter of intent during the November period. Check back with All Star Report often for updates on TJ and many other top prospects from the Class of 2001 and beyond.

Extra Buzz on Louisville: Sources told ASR on Wednesday that the following players were scheduled to join Ford, and verbally committed prospects Carlos Hurt and Dennis Coutee for the Cardinal's "Morning Madness" celebration. They are, AL BF/C Ousmane Cisse, CA BF Dermarshay Johnson, NC BF Terry Licorish, and NC C Tony Key.

10/9: "visited the University of Cincinnati this past weekend for the second of his three official visits. He has already visited Texas and will visit Louisville this weekend for Midnight Madness. "I had a really good time while I was there," he said on Sunday. "When I was there it seemed like a quiet place, quiet enough where I could concentrate on my studies. I liked hanging around the players and they all seemed really close. I enjoyed playing with them, too." Ford indicated he will make a decision after visiting Louisville." - Cincy Post

10/8: "Ford visited Cincinnati, but didn't commit to the Bearcats. He has one trip remaining. Ford says that's still interested in four schools - Texas, Cincinnati, Louisville and Houston. He recently returned home from his official visit to Cincinnati. "I enjoyed myself," Ford said. "The best part was being around the players." Ford said he really enjoyed all of his visits thus far, and he seems to be having a hard time making up his mind. "I can see myself going to a lot of schools, but I know that's not going to happen." Ford said that he played pickup basketball on Saturday during his visit to Cincinnati. He thought the competition was outstanding. He was teamed with current UC PG Kenny Satterfield. The sophomore Bearcats floor general told Ford that he'll leave for the NBA when he can, but made no guarantees when that would be. Satterfield strongly considered leaving after his freshman season. Ford said that Cincinnati did not force the issue and ask him to commit on the spot. "Every school said that they would love for me to commit." - Rivals100 Hoops

10/8: "told us his visit to Cincinnati went real good. "I spent a lot of time with the players and asked the players about coach Huggins," Ford said. "The players told me a lot of good things about coach Huggins." Ford said he also spent a lot of time in the gym playing pickup ball. "The team plays hard," Ford remarked. Ford said he liked the campus and the fact that all the classes are in one area of the campus. Ford pointed out that the state of Texas was more spaced out while in Cincinnati it was more condensed. Ford said his visit to Louisville is still on for next weekend. "I will make my decision after all my visits are over," Ford said. "I want to sit down and discuss it with my family and then decide early." Ford, who wants to major in broadcast journalism, is still working on a qualifying SAT or ACT score. Ford has also visited Texas." - Insiders Report

10/5: "T.J. Ford doesn't worry about getting his points. The University of Cincinnati recruit is a true point guard who calls himself “a look-for-my-teammates kind of guy.” “Be a leader,” Ford said. “That's my main thing.” Ford begins his official recruiting visit to UC on Friday. Recruiting experts believe Texas — where Ford already has visited — is the leader to sign the 5-foot-11 senior from Willowridge High School in Sugar Land, Texas. Last weekend, Ford visited Houston. After UC, he said, he will visit Louisville. “He has Allen Iverson-like quickness (but) doesn't have his selfishness,” said Clark Francis of HoopScoop. “I saw him at an all-star game (two weeks ago) in New Jersey, and he was one of the few players who made his teammates better — in an all-star game. “His one weakness is he probably doesn't shoot it well enough, but he doesn't have to. He's one of these guys who is capable of dominating the game from the point guard spot without scoring a lot of points. That's pretty impressive.” Ford averaged 10 points and 10 assists last season. He said he will take all four visits before making a decision. Ford said he is looking for a school that “makes me comfortable.” “(I just want) to have a good relationship with the coach, make sure his door is open 24 hours, because I might be far away from home and my parents might not be close to me,” Ford said. “If I need some guidance or help, I can go straight to the coach. “I'll find out a lot of things (this weekend). I've never been to Cincinnati before. Everything they show me will be new to me.” Francis rates Ford as the No.17 high school player in the country. Rivals100Hoops.com ranks him No.28. Bob Gibbons from All Star Sports has him as a top-25 player. “He's quick as lightning and a tremendous playmaker,” Gibbons said. “He's really good at penetrating and dishing it off. He just beats you off the dribble.” Said Willowridge coach Ronnie Courtney: “He's probably one of the best kids I've coached in all my years of coaching. ... He knows when you're open before you know you're open.” - Cincy Post

10/4: "WHAS in Louisville reported Wednesday that Ousmane Cisse will be on hand to watch his older brother's first collegiate practice Oct 14th. Apparently, TJ will be there as well. (if he makes it out of Cincy this weekend)" - mssg board, Rivals100 Hoops

10/4: "Considered to once be a lock for Texas, the fact that he'll make an official visit to Cincinnati has to be encouraging to the Bearcats" - Rivals100 Hoops

10/4: "Maxiell's commitment could very well help open the door for Cincinnati with respect to their chances of landing top-flight point guard Terrance "TJ" Ford from Willowridge HS in Sugar Land, TX. Ford is expected to take an official visit to Cincinnati this weekend. His other finalists are Louisville and Texas." - AllStar Report

10/3: "told us his first two visits -- to Texas and Houston have gone well. "I learned about both schools more," Ford said. "I enjoyed both visits. It was hard to say if any of them were better than the other." Ford told us he will visit Cincinnati this upcoming weekend and then finish out his trips with a visit to Louisville. "I am not close to making a decision," Ford said. "I won't make a decision until I take all of my visits." Previously, Ford told us Louisville is also strong on his list due to Carlos Hurt being aboard. "Carlos and I played with each other when we were young," Ford said. "I am very interested in them especially with Carlos there." Last season, averaged 10 points, nine assists, and four steals. He is very quick and a great defender. He heard early from Kentucky, Duke, Stanford, Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M, Syracuse, Alabama, Tennessee, TCU, and Auburn. This list is obviously been cut down. Ford had an excellent second half of the summer and is considered a serious candidate for the McDonald's All American game next March at Duke University."

10/2: "T.J. Ford, one of the nation's top point guard prospects, will make an official visit to UC this weekend. He is also being recruited by Texas and Louisville." - Cincy Post

9/28: "Houston has a great shot at getting TJ Ford, but there is some stiff competition out there, most particularly from Cincinnati." It was also reported that TJ will visit Houston this weekend. - AllStar Report

9/25: Played in Rick Barrett's Gym Rat Midnight Madness
tourney in Cherry Hill, NJ. Won the pre-game slam dunk competition. Named to the all tourney team.

9/22: "We hear Louisville continues to recruit point guard Terrance Ford from Texas. This does not make much sense for Louisville for Ford. Carlos can play a little two guard but his pro position is clearly the point guard spot. Plus don't forget about sophomore Reese Gaines who is much more of a two guard then wing, so we do not see where Ford would fit in. That being said we still look for Terrance to go to Texas." - Recruiting Beat

9/21: Listed as the third best 'pure' PG in his class. "He's the best athlete in the point guard class and no one is as fast, endline to endline, with a basketball in his hands. Leaning toward signing with Texas." - Frank Burlison, FoxSports

9/20: "..will make an official visit to Cincinnati the weekend of Oct. 6. Ford said Tuesday he has already visited Texas and will visit Houston and Louisville before selecting a school. A good student, the 5-foot-11, 165-pound guard from Sugar Land, Texas, said he will sign a national letter-of-intent during the early signing period. Ford said UC coach Bob Huggins made a home visit Sept 7. "Cincinnati has a winning program and you can tell people around the country respect them," Ford said. "When Coach Huggins came into my home he not only talked about basketball, he talked a lot about academics." Ford is rival.com's sixth-rated point guard behind DaJuan Wagner of Camden, N.J, Jonathan Hargett of Durham, N.C., Aaron Miles of Portland, Ore., Maurice Williams of Jackson, Miss., and Carlos Hurt of Louisville." - Cincy Post

9/19: "The 5-11, 165-pound point guard lists UC, Texas, Louisville, Georgetown and Houston among his top schools according to John Eurry, Ford's AAU coach. "I think he likes the fact that they play on TV a lot," Eurry said. "They play up tempo and their players go to the NBA. That's his dream, but he wants to get a degree and his parents want him to get his degree." - Cincy Post

9/13: "I will be taking official visits to Louisville and Cincinnati," Ford said. "I don't have the dates [of the official visits] but I am trying to work that out now," Ford said. He's scheduled to take the SAT again Sept. 23, so that weekend isn't an option. Besides, after taking the test that Saturday morning in Philadelphia, he'll head to New Jersey for Rick Barrett's Midnight Madness." - Rivals100 Hoops

9/12: "Ford spoke...on Monday, at which time he indicated that Texas, Louisville, and Cincinnati are the only schools that remain on his list. Both UCLA and Georgetown are no longer under consideration according to TJ. This past Thursday both Cincinnati and Texas made in-home presentations, which according to Ford went well. "They just say the same things in different ways," he added. Louisville was scheduled to be in the Ford household on Monday evening for an in-home visit. Over the weekend, TJ made an official visit to the Texas' campus, where he had the opportunity to take in a football game, hang out with some of the current Longhorn players, and receive a complete tour of the University. "I had a lot of fun," said Ford, who added that he "really liked the atmosphere" at UT." - All Star Report

9/12: "He can explode to the hoop off the dribble and finish drive in traffic or kick it to wing. On the recruiting front he likes Texas, Arkansas, Louisville, and Cincinnati." - Van Coleman/FutureStars

9/7: "McDonald's All American candidate T.J. Ford is one of the most exciting players in the class of 2001. Ford is highly regarded and is being heavily recruited by four of the top programs in the country. Ford, a 5-10, 160-pound guard from Willowridge High School in Willowridge, Texas, told us he has a top four list. Right now Ford told us he is considering taking visits to Louisville, Houston, Cincinnati, and Texas. "I am supposed to visit Texas on September 8th," Ford said. "I have not set up the other official visits." What makes Ford's recruiting interesting is his interest in Louisville and what many think would be the possibility of an all-quick backcourt if T.J. decided to play for Denny Crum's program. Already committed to Louisville is outstanding guard Carlos Hurt, who is also a serious candidate for the McDonald's All American game. "I played with Carlos when we were little," Ford said. "I have known him for a long time. I would say Carlos being at Louisville helps them and makes their program more attractive. It would be a lot of fun to play with him." Some people in the recruiting world feel that Texas is the school to beat. Ford says: "They are strong. But I got four great schools on my list." Last season, averaged 10 points, nine assists, and four steals. He is very quick and a great defender. Ford had an excellent second half of the summer and is considered a serious candidate for the McDonald's All American game next March at Duke University. "It would be a thrill to play in the game," Ford said. "The best players against the best players. It is one of my individual goals." - McDonalds All American Game

9/6: "is making his official visit to Austin for the Texas football game this Saturday. Ford, the No. 28 player in the nation according to Rivals100Hoops.com, is Texas’ No. 1 target among members of the Class of 2001." - Rivals100 Hoops

9/6: "told us he has a top four list. Right now Ford told us he is considering taking visits to Louisville, Houston, Cincinnati, and Texas. "I am supposed to visit Texas on September 8th," Ford said. "I have not set up the other official visits." Ford told us Louisville is also strong on his list due to Carlos Hurt being aboard. "Carlos and I played with each other when we were young," Ford said. "I am very interested in them especially with Carlos there." Last season, averaged 10 points, nine assists, and four steals. He is very quick and a great defender." - Insiders Report

8/30: Feature article on TJ Ford
http://www.sportsuniversity.com/sports/basketball_men/000830_ford.shtml

8/30: "For those of you who haven't had the chance to watch Terrence Ford play, the thing that stands out most prominently is the manner in which he runs his team. Ford runs his team to perfection and yet does it at such a fast pace that it's pretty amazing to watch. Baseline to baseline, he is probably the fastest at covering the court in this entire class. He plays all out with desire and hustle and is all over the opposing guards on defense. The lightning quick 5'10 PG from the infamous "Willowridge Trio" dropped us a brief summary on his summer and his recruitment.

"Hi! How is everyone doing today. I have had the best summer I've ever had this year. When I started the summer off, I was not very focused at all because I wasn't playing like myself. When I started just playing and not worrying about college coaches, I played very well. I love basketball and means alot to me, so I play my heart out every time I get a ball in my hands. At this point I have Cincinnati, Louisville, Texas, UCLA, and Georgetown. In High School I averaged 10 pts, 10 ast., 6 steals a game." When I am away from basketball I'm playing video games, going to the movies, and being with my family.
Thanks- T.J. Ford - High Major Hoops

8/21: "is taking his time in making a college decision. So far, he doesn't have any in-home visits set up, but he has made one official visit. Rick Barnes' Texas Longhorns will host Ford the weekend of Sept. 9 when the Louisiana-Lafeyette football team rolls into Austin. The word on the streets is that Texas is in great shape with Ford. Remember when assistant Rob Lanier wore the Willowridge basketball t-shirt in Las Vegas? I bet Ford does. However, the Longhorns aren't the only school taking a run at him. Louisville, Cincinnati, UCLA and Georgetown are also recruiting him. The Cardinals and Longhorns are on him the hardest. Yes, the Cardinals have Carlos Hurt ready to go, but that hasn't halted their recruitment of Ford one bit. Louisville is telling him that they are talking about playing three guards together. "Whoever gets the ball first will handle it," Ford said. "We do that during the season so it's fine with me. I want to make sure the school is right for me," Ford said. "It's four years so you can't have any mistakes." - Rivals100Hoops

8/1: 18th best player in the USA.
18. T.J. Ford, PG, 5-10/160, Sugar Land, Texas/Willowridge: Extremely quick. Left head coaches speechless with uncanny knack for separating from defenses and dishing." - Steve Wacaser, Sporting News

7/27: Listed as the 4th best PG in USA.
"Many scouts questioned his team play after the Houston Superstars were knocked out in the second round of the Big Time. One week later, he responded with a 20-point performance to lead Houston to the Best of the Summer title. He has amazing jumping ability, but his biggest weakness is shooting - something that he is slowly improving on. His list is still wide open, but Kentucky is on his heels." - FastBreak

7/25: "Ford lists Kentucky, Arkansas, Texas, Cincinnati, Houston, Missouri, Nebraska, Illinois, Connecticut, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Villanova, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Saint Louis and UCLA." - FoxSports

7/21: "Quite unexpectedly, I ran into outstanding 6-0 lead guard Terrance Ford while observing a contest (at the Big Time Tourney in Vegas)involving the touted Michigan Mustangs. Naturally, I seized the opportunity to discuss the future plans of the talented Texas standout. According to Terrance, the following programs- Texas, Villanova, Georgetown, Arkansas, UCLA, UCONN, Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Louis- constitute the current collegiate list. Terrance indicated that he may opt for an unofficial visit to UCLA (time permitting) when in California for the "Pump & Run" Tournament. In addition, Terrance informed AE Hoops of his intent to "cut" his list down to a more manageable number on September 1st. However, he remains uncertain with regard to his likely commitment timetable." - ACC Recruiting

7/20: "Texas now appears to be way out in front for 5'10 Terrance Ford" - HoopScoop

7/20: http://www.sportingnews.com/voices/mike_decourcy/20000720.html

7/18: Notes from TJ Ford on the FastBreak mssg board.

Q: Would you like to continue to to play alongside Daniel Ewing ?
A: If it works out for the both of us they definitely yes, but right now I need to look out for myself. This is four years and I am about to commit myself to a school. I need to make sure that it is right for me.

7/17: "T.J. Ford was (impressive) in an earlier game for the Houston Superstars. Ford has been well known to recruiters since his sophomore year. Last year, he led Sugar Land Willowridge High to the state championship and to a spot in the top five national rankings.
While playing with high school teammates Daniel Ewing, Kenny Taylor and Curtis Walker, the Superstars defeated California's Double Pump All-Stars, 65-55. Ford's slick passing, stifling defense and clutch scoring created problems for the Double Pump All-Stars. When the Superstars needed a basket, he delivered. On the fast break, Ford made the right pass. Off penetration, he either scored or set up a teammate for an easy basket." - FoxSports

7/17: "Half the world wants a shot at T.J. Ford, the nasty 5-11 guard out of Houston Willowridge, but our money’s on Texas edging out G’town and Duke." - HoopsTV

7/14: Listed as the second best PG at the ABCD Camp. - All Star Report

7/12: "the 5'10 lead guard from Willowridge High in Sugarland Texas is one of the premier point guards in the nation due to his blazing quickness, relentless defense and ability to run a team. Ford, is being actively recruited by dozens of schools at this time. When prompted about his favorites at the current time, Ford replied "I am wide open, just trying to keep all of my options open." Several schools that are showing Ford major attention are Texas, Houston, UCLA, Louisville, Kentucky, St. Louis, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Illinois and Connecticut. Ford played at the Adidas camp and complimented the play of two tough guards that he had to face this weekend in Brandon Fuss-Cheatham and Maurice Williams. Ford says "Cheatham is just so strong, he's tough." Ford also says that the commitment by Rashaad Carruth to Kentucky "doesn't at all affect" his interest in the Kentucky program. Ford had expressed to us in the past that he would enjoy playing with his high school teammate Daniel Ewing, but if things didn't work out, it was not as big of a deal as some think. - High Major Hoops

7/11: "The others that I thought played particularly well were Daniel Ewing, (6-4, Houston), who was extremely impressive the whole day. There are rumors that Ewing and his high school teammate, who is even more touted, T.J. Ford, a 6-foot point guard, both could be announcing shortly for Kentucky. That's one of the things that was going around Saturday." - Brick O. / CNNSI

7/10: Rated 11th in USA. - FastBreak Recruiting
Rated 20th in USA - AllStar Report

7/10: Selected to the ABCD Senior All Star game, July 10, 2000 - Insiders Report

6/29: "T.J. Ford, a lightning quick 5-11, 160 pound point guard from Willowridge H.S. in Houston, Tex., is keeping an open door policy regarding his recruitment. Ford told the Insiders Report that he has heard from and is interested in Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Connecticut, West Virginia, UCLA, Southern California, Houston, Louisville, St. Louis, Arkansas, Kentucky and Texas Christian. "I am open to anyone who wants to recruit me," Ford said. Ford averaged 10 points, four rebounds, 10 assists and five steals per game for nationally ranked Willowridge H.S. Ford has a full slate of summer events over the next two weeks. He will attend the adidas ABCD Camp, and will then travel out to Las Vegas and California to play with the Houston Superstars program." - Insiders Report

6/8: "As a junior Ford led Willowridge to a 36-1 record and a Texas state championship. Schools that continue to show interest in this young man include Texas, Georgetown, Duke, Houston, Kentucky, Auburn, Arizona, Louisville, and a handful of others. Terrance is coming off an impressive performance at the recent Blue Cross/Blue Shield Tournament of Champions event, where he proved too quick for many of his opponents, slashing to the basket and initiating contact in the paint. - All Star Report

6/5: "Last year, Sugarland (TX) Willowridge pressed, pressured and used its up-tempo style to finish 36-1 as Texas State Champions. The leader of coach Ronnie Courtney's band of talented hoopsters was PG T.J. Ford, and he's set to terrorize opponents on the summer circuit. Opening night of the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions was a good example of how good Ford is. His Houston Superstars team was going up against the USA Players and PG Billy Edelin. Ford proved to be too quick for any of the Players guards and found himself getting to the basket at will. However, the Players made it difficult on Ford. Seemingly each time he got into the paint and went to the rim, he found himself on the ground. He must have shot 10 free throws in the first half alone. Battered and bruised, Ford continued - it was only the first night of competition. He's a warrior. Indications are that Ford will be one of the most highly recruited PGs in the Class of 2001. Rick Barnes' Texas Longhorns have shown the most interest in him to date, but Ford says that he's willing to look around and is very open at this point. "I can't even talk to anyone until July, so right now I am wide open," Ford told Rivals100Hoops.com. In addition to Texas, Georgetown, Houston, Kentucky, Auburn, Arizona, Louisville and the entire SEC is showing interest in him. Ford's teammate is standout WG Daniel Ewing. Though there is chatter that they would attend the same college, the situation would have to be nearly perfect for the both of them to sign with the same college. Ford wants to play for a team that isn't afraid to get up and down the floor. He would like to be able to control the tempo of the game, changing speeds as the situation dictates. Ford recently took the SAT and carries a 3.7 GPA. He will play at the adidas Big Time and also the ABCD Camp." - Rivals100Hoops

6/4: "UC also is interested in a point guard, such as T.J. Ford or Carlos Hurt of Houston, and remains in the hunt for 6-8 forward Jawad Williams of Lakewood. Among big men, the Bearcats lead for 6-8 Jason Maxiell of Dallas." - Mike DeCourcy

5/30: "turned in a solid performance this past weekend playing for the Houston Superstars at the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Tournament of Champions. T.J. scored many of his points by using his quickness to take his man off the dribble and go strong to the basket. He also showed that he is an effective passer, and he can create his own shot when he needs to. At this point Ford says that he is wide open, but the schools that have shown alot of interest include Texas, UCLA, Kentucky, Duke, Houston, Alabama, Tennessee, Stanford, Syracuse, and Auburn. Terrance has a 3.7 GPA and plans to take the SAT next month. He is scheduled to attend both the USA Basketball camp in Colorado Springs and the Adidas ABCD Camp this summer. - All Star Report

5/27: "a 5-10, 160-pound guard from Willowridge High School in Willowridge, Texas, took an unoffical visit to Duke today and came away very impressed. Ford was shown the new Duke offices along with future plans for a multi-media hallway filled with great Duke moments. Ford would only say that is was a great way to find out what Duke is about. Ford also told us that he was impressed with the new Duke facilities. Ford averaged 10 points, 10 assists last year as a junior. He is very quick and a great defender. "I am hearing a lot from Kentucky, Duke, Stanford, Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M, Syracuse, Alabama, Tennessee, TCU, and Auburn," Ford said. "I am going to take a look at all of them." Ford said he would like to take some visits. "I would like to take as many visits as possible before cutting my list down," Ford said. - Insiders Report

5/18: "Terrance "T.J." Ford, a 5'11 PG from Willowridge HS in Sugar Land, TX, is one of the most explosive athletes in the Class of 2001. Last season Ford averaged 11.5 points, 9.5 assists and 5 steals per game while leading Willowridge to an amazing 36-1 record and #5 national ranking in the USA Today. At the Slam Dunk to the Beach in December, Ford wowed the crowd with his incredible quickness and baseline to baseline speed. Willowridge beat Ballard HS from Louisville, KY, St. Patrick's HS from Elizabeth, NJ, and Roman Catholic HS from Philadelphia, PA to take home the prestigious National Tournament Title. T.J. is a big time recruiting target, and one of the Top 25 players nationally in the rising senior class. He says that he likes everyone, and is wide open, but the schools that have shown him the most interest are Texas, Louisville, UCLA, Kentucky, Duke, Houston, Connecticut, and several other schools in the ACC, Big East, and SEC. Ford has a 3.7 GPA and plans to take the SAT for the first time in June. He told All Star Report that he is looking forward to getting on the road this spring and summer, and is especially excited about playing in the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions on Memorial Day weekend. Ford will travel with John Eurey's Houston Superstars AAU squad, who will also be playing in the Illinois Fire Tournament, The Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, and the Kenny Smith Tournament back home in Houston. Ford will attend the USA Basketball camp in Colorado Springs and the Adidas ABCD Camp this summer. - AllStar Report

5/9: "The soft spoken, humble manner of 6-0 point guard Terrance Ford (Willowridge- Sugarland, Texas) is entirely at odds with the loud, self-aggrandizing nature of our current basketball culture. In fact, Terrance's humility is particularly impressive when one considers his enviable talents on the hardwood. Terrance is the consummate floor general and, in the unforgettable vernacular of Dick Vitale, a legitimate "3-D" man (drive, draw, and dish). Unlike some youngsters, Terrance competes at a high level at both ends of the floor. Indeed, in the opinion of one ACC assistant coach Terrance is one of the best if not the best defender at the lead guard position in the nation. In the following you will find the results of my interview with Terrance last night. BDC- Who is your favorite NBA player? Terrance- "I'd have to say Jason Kidd." BDC- What current collegiate player do you admire the most? Terrance- "I'd have to say Scoonie Penn, I like the way he plays." BDC- If you could meet one individual-past or present- who would it be and why? Terrance-"Michael Jordan. I'd like to sit down and ask him about his work ethic and see how he studies other players." BDC- At present, what is your GPA? Terrance- "3.7" BDC- Have you taken the SAT /ACT yet? Score? If not when are you scheduled to take the examination? Terrance- "I'm taking it (SAT) in June." BDC- What academic discipline will you study in college? Terrance-"At this point I am looking into computer science." BDC- Assuming you do not reach the NBA, in what career field do you foresee yourself working? Terrance- "I'd like to own my own business, I like to control things." BDC- Honestly speaking, did you grow up a fan of any particular program? Terrance- "Kentucky, Duke, and Georgia Tech." BDC- What programs are you currently considering ? Terrance- "I have not been concentrating on that. I am focusing on summer basketball." Note- Terrance did express interest in Duke (amongst others) during a conversation with me this past winter. I suspect once he becomes more involved in the process he will again. BDC- Do you have a leader or leaders at this point? Terrance- "No" BDC- What factors will govern your decision in terms of the program you ultimately select? Terrance- "I want to play a lot of minutes, that's going to be the key." BDC- When do you intend to sign with or commit to a program? Terrance- "I am not sure, it all depends on well I go through the recruiting process." BDC- What facet of your game requires the most work or improvement? Terrance- "My shooting, I've got to be more consistent." BDC- What facet of your game do you consider your greatest asset? Terrance- "Making other players better." - Duke.Rivals.com

5/4: "the #4 Point Guard in the class of 2001" - MidWest Hoops

4/13: Named the 9th best player in the class of 2001 by Dave Telep of Rivals 100.

3/5/00: Willowridge beat Carlos Hurt's Elsik team to enter the state tournament at 34-1 on the year.

12/30/99: Willowridge won the SlamDunkToTheBeach tournament over Philly's Roman Catholic, 64-58. The big difference in the game was Willowridge's relentless pressure early. Roman Catholic features top player, Eddie Griffin. - HoopScoop

12/30/99: Daniel Ewing and Terrance Ford have expressed an interest in attending college together. They list 9 schools including Cincinnati.