FAYETTEVILLE — It’s not often that a player has a chance to win a second Class 4A state title and be named MVP twice by the time he is a sophomore, but that’s the possibility for Magnolia star Derrian Ford this weekend in Hot Springs.
Ford (6-3, 195), a priority Arkansas 2022 recruit, scored 36 points to lead the Panthers to a 63-56 win over Brookland in double overtime Saturday in Farmington.
Magnolia (26-0), which is riding a 31-game winning streak, will face Little Rock Mills (28-3) Friday at 7:45 p.m. in a rematch of last season’s championship game that the Panthers won 78-76.
“I just play to win,” Ford said. “I take the best shots to help my team win and try to take it a game at a time.”
Mills has won 15 games in a row and features sophomore Javion Guy-King (6-5, 190), who also has a Razorbacks offer. Ford has offers from Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Baylor, Oklahoma State, TCU, Fresno State and others.
“I am just enjoying the process and thanking God for the opportunities that are coming my way,” Ford said.
Arkansas' coaches have made a solid impression on Ford.
“They are amazing,” Ford said. “They treat you more like family. It is more than just about basketball with them. Their facilities are amazing. They have the No. 1 nutrition program in the country. It’s just family and it is close to home.”
Panthers head coach Ben Lindsey, a Magnolia native and former UAB and Missouri manager for Mike Anderson, knows he has a special player.
“He is physically and mentally strong, and he doesn’t play like a 16 year old,” Lindsey said. “He doesn’t look like one, he doesn’t act like one, he is mentally tough. He doesn’t make many mental mistakes. He doesn’t make many physical mistakes.
“We are talking about a kid that has tons of offers from the SEC, the Big 12 and he doesn’t force it. He could go get his, but all he cares about it winning. They all do. I couldn’t be more proud of them or be in a better spot.”
After finishing up his high school season, Ford will turn his attention to the spring and summer AAU campaign while playing for Houston Hoops.
“I just want to continue to develop everything in my game,” Ford said. “I just have the mentality that I want to be the best player that has ever played basketball, so that is why I put the work in every day.”
Ford models his game after late Los Angeles Lakers star guard Kobe Bryant.
“I always watched Kobe,” Ford said. “Even though he has passed, I watched him on tape and just tried to pattern my game after his, even though he is right handed and I am left handed. I just try to have his mentality and his footwork.”
Ford is one of three sophomores along with DeVonte Walker (6-4) and Colby Garland (6-1) playing key roles for Magnolia while senior center Kyle Carver (6-4) lends experience in the middle.
Ford, Garland and Carver were all on last season’s championship team.
“We may be young, but they think they can win and, the bigger the stage, the better they seem to play,” Lindsey said. “Those are just super kids as well.”