ESPN 4-star and Magnolia guard Derrian Ford has committed to Arkansas.
Ford, 6-4, 205 pounds, has more than 20 scholarship offers, including Arkansas, Baylor, Kansas, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, LSU and other programs. He made an official visit to Fayetteville on June 1-3.
He told Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman and Arkansas' staff of his decision Tuesday and went public Wednesday.
“I just had a great bond with them and I talked to them almost every day,” Ford said. “I just felt the connection and then just staying home. I just want to represent for Arkansas. I just love Arkansas so much.
"The official visit was amazing. Whenever I went up there they always treated me and my family with the best hospitality. I just loved it so much. Arkansas has been nothing but a blessing to us.”
Ford was named the Gatorade Arkansas Player of the Year and the Class 4A Player of the Year by the Arkansas Basketball Coaches Association after averaging 23 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists per game as a junior.
He said he was feeling Arkansas long before his official trip to Fayetteville.
“It wasn’t even the official visit, it was the talking. It was like I had known them for so long," said Ford, who was named first team Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All Arkansas Preps. "They showed so much interest in me and wanted the best for me.”
He released his top 11 schools of Arkansas, Baylor, Auburn, Missouri, Kansas, Florida, Ole Miss, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Texas Tech and LSU on June 11. He told Musselman and the staff about his pledge during a FaceTime session.
“They were all excited. The whole coaching staff was right here,” Ford said. “We had a great time with them.”
ESPN also rates him the No. 13 shooting guard and No. 59 overall recruit in the nation for the 2022 class.
Paul Biancardi, the national recruiting director for ESPN, likes Ford.
“Another prospect who had an outstanding high school season,” Biancardi said. “He has displayed effectiveness both inside and beyond the arc with his jumper. He creates space well for himself and can read the floor and make the assist.
"He also earns a fair share of points from the free throw line at a good percentage.”
Arkansas fans have been vocal about wanting Ford to be a Razorback on social media.
“They did help a little bit,” Ford said. “If you go to Arkansas, you’re going to have a lot of fan support. It’s just like home. You’re going to have people rooting for you and having your back.”
Musselman told Ford he can help him to get to the NBA.
“He told me he just wants to get me to my dream and I believe he can do it,” he said. “I’m just going to be putting in a lot of hard work. Whatever I can do to help the team, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Ford is the third ESPN 4-star to commit to Arkansas for the 2022 class. The Razorbacks also have commitments from Morrilton guard Joseph Pinion and small forward Barry Dunning of Mobile (Ala.) McGill Toolen.