Thursday, October 05, 2000
UC recruit makes point with passes
Guard Ford considers Texas, Houston, U of L
By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer
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.”
Jason Maxiell, a 6-8 power forward from Carrollton, Texas, spoke on the phone with UC coaches Tuesday night and orally committed to attend Cincinnati. He made his official visit last weekend.
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 UC recruit makes point with passes
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