T.J. Ford

by **Dark Horse** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 2:52 pm

Now that he's headed to the NBA, who's going to run the point for UT?
Guess their fans can cancel those hotel reservations at next year's Final Four.

by **Dark Horse** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 4:20 pm

CNNSI's version of the story:

Report says All-American Ford will enter NBA Draft

HOUSTON (AP) -- Texas sophomore All-America point guard T.J. Ford plans to make himself available for the NBA draft, according to reports Tuesday night.

Houston television station KRIV and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that sources close to the Longhorns program said Ford would hold a news conference this week to make it official. KRIV reported the news conference would be Thursday in Austin.

"I can not confirm that for you," Texas basketball spokesman Scott McConnell told The Associated Press on Tuesday night. "He has not informed us of any decision."

McConnell said no news conference has been scheduled "as of yet." He said nothing would be announced Tuesday night concerning a news conference or Ford's future. McConnell said the school had planned to hold a news conference for whatever decision Ford made.

"He has to go," the Star-Telegram quoted its source as saying. "He's going to be a top-10 pick. After the season he's had, he could only hurt [his standing] by staying another year."

During the season, Ford said he was "110 percent sure" he would return for his junio season, but after the season he began hinting that he might leave for the NBA.

Ford led the Longhorns to their first Final Four appearance in 56 years. He won the John R. Wooden Award and the Naismith Award, both college basketball player of the year honors.

He led the team in five statistical categories this season -- including scoring average (15.0 points) and assists (7.7). He had 10 or more assists nine times last season and 24 times over his two-year college career. His 527 assists ranks second on Texas' career list.

On April 16, Ford was taken by ambulance to an Austin hospital after taking what he described as "a spill" in a pickup basketball game. He said he was taken to the hospital as a precaution. The university wouldn't release details, citing privacy laws.

Ford spent about four hours in a hospital emergency room.

by **The CPC** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 5:20 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Dark Horse:
Now that he's headed to the NBA, who's going to run the point for UT?
Guess their fans can cancel those hotel reservations at next year's Final Four.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

CPC would imagine that JC recruit Edgar Moreno will be UT's point guard next year, although Royal Ivey could move over to the point, letting Sydmill Harris or Brian Boddicker move into the starting lineup, depending on wether the Horns want to go with a big or short lineup.

Dont sneer too hard at the Horns. Even with Ford leaving, everyone else returns, and they wont have to wait too long for another star point guard. Daniel Gibson is considered the best high school point in the country, and he's already committed for 2004.

by **giacfsp** » Fri May 02, 2003 2:24 pm

So who's going to fall off more: Syracuse without Carmelo Anthony or Texas without T.J. Ford?

by **Blunt Pony** » Fri May 02, 2003 8:04 pm

You think Bhop wishes he had committed to UT now? He would be running the show next year, probably a year earlier than he expected.

by **FloridaMustang** » Sun May 04, 2003 3:22 pm

Ha. Not playing the way he did last year.

by **Pony Up** » Sun May 04, 2003 4:22 pm

BHop wanted to play with his brother, and UT didn't want Ryan. The Hopkins brothers are close to their family, from what I've read, and they made the right decision.

by **LA_Mustang** » Sun May 04, 2003 4:26 pm

If Bryan had went to Texas they would have redshirted him.

by **Fresh** » Mon May 05, 2003 11:23 am

To answer giacfsp's question: Texas falls more without Ford than Syracuse does without Mello. Mello's a better player, overall, but he also had much better talent around him. 'Cuse will still be an upper-tier team in the Big East. Not sure Texas will amount to anything without T.J. CPC says their new point guard is good, but who's going to score on that team? Nobody.