FAYETTEVILLE — After surviving a double-overtime game against Brookland in a Class 4A state basketball semifinal in early March, Arkansas recruiting target and Magnolia sophomore Derrian Ford and his teammates were looking forward to defending their state title the following weekend in Hot Springs.
But a day before the unbeaten Panthers would have been going for a 32nd straight win over the course of the last two seasons, the coronavirus epidemic became the only thing to stop the program in that time.
Magnolia (26-0) was set to meet Little Rock Mills (28-9) in a title game that was first postponed and eventually canceled. Both teams were declared co-state champions.
“Well, first I was just thanking God that we were able to get through that semifinal game and be at the stage in the season that we were,” Ford said. “And then I thought it was just God’s plan for us to be co-champions.”
Ford (6-3, 195) is one of two 2022 players from Arkansas in Rivals’ Top 50 players. He comes in at No. 39 and Sylvan Hill’s Nick Smith lands at No. 44.
Arkansas joins Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Texas A&M, Kansas, Vanderbilt, Baylor, Oklahoma State, TCU, Rice, Fresno State and Oral Roberts as programs that have offered Ford.
Ford, who averaged 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists per game as a sophomore, is friends with future Razorbacks Davonte Davis, Moses Moody, Khalen Robinson and Jaylin Williams, all former in-state standouts who have Arkansas’ 2020 recruiting class ranked No. 6 nationally, according to ESPN.
“They are all great players and I just know that Coach Muss is excited to have them. They are going to work hard and push Arkansas as far as they can,” Ford said. “They might even win a championship, and that would be great for Arkansas.
“Those are some very talented players and I am looking to get up there as much as I can to watch them play."
The Class 4A tournament was held in Farmington, which allowed his parents, Darnell and Tiffani Ford, to visit the nearby Arkansas program in Fayetteville. The Fords had a chance to visit with Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman and assistants Corey Williams and Chris Crutchfield.
“They love the whole staff and they talk about it every day almost,” Ford said. “We talk about all the colleges, but they really talk about Arkansas.
“They got to meet Coach Muss, Coach Corey and Coach Crutchfield and the rest of the coaching staff and love them.”
Kansas is the latest program to have offered Ford, who has already topped 1,000 career points at Magnolia.
“I thank God for it and I know that Kansas is a highly respected program and I was just happy that they acknowledged my talent,” Ford said. “That was really a big thing for me.
“Recruiting is not how it would be if we were playing basketball, but it is still going good right now and I am thanking God for the process."
Ranked as 4-star prospect, Ford is able to work out despite schools and many recreational programs being shut down due to corners over the coronavirus.
“We actually have a church gym, so we have been still been working out every day and haven’t missed a beat,” Ford said.
If there is an AAU season, Ford has plans to play for Team South/Team Thad after previously considering playing for Houston Hoops, which would have required him to be in Houston for the Nike EYBL schedule.
“It was just a family decision,” Ford said. “We are big on family. First God and then family. Everything was going good down here in Arkansas, so we just decided to stay here in Arkansas and play with Team South and Team Thad.”
Ford, who scored 36 points in a quarterfinal round win over Blytheville, has a lofty goal in terms of what he wants to get done during this offseason.
“I pray that from the work that I put in this spring and summer that I would be good enough to play in the NBA in the 11th grade,” Ford said. “I know that is not going to happen, but I want that to be my mindset and where I want for my game to be - where I could compete with NBA players.”