LIVERMORE, CA -- The first Prep2Prep California Classic was Sunday at Las Positas College, giving many fans their first glimpse of rising senior Jordan Ford.
He didn’t disappoint.
The unimposing-looking, 6-foot, 170-pound guard dazzled the more than 1,000 fans with his effort. He led all scorers with 28 points on 8-of-11 shooting, to go along with four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Despite the stellar play by Ford, the Southern California 2016 team led by game MVP Devearl Ramsey of Sierra Canyon (20 points) defeated NorCal 137-134.
“It was definitely a lot of fun going up against all of these SoCal guys,” Ford said. “We play against them a lot. So it was definitely fun to go up against them, especially for the crowd.”
Ford for the uninitiated was a revelation. He maneuvered through defenders for floaters that cleanly dropped through the net, drained 3-pointers (5 of 6) and harassed on defense. It’s no wonder a gang of four-year colleges are after him, with his final four set at UC-Santa Barbara, St. Mary’s and Oregon State.
Tweeted @coachrobhoops of “The NorCal Report”: “The NorCal Report is the only service we’re aware of that has had @jordan_ford_ ranked as high as No. 2 in Northern Ca. #BeatingYouToThePunch.”
Regarding the doubters, Folsom coach Mike Wall told Prep2Prep a week before the game: “They look out and give the puzzled look of ‘Really, that’s the guy?’ Then mid-way through the game he goes on one of his little runs, does something that makes your jaw drop and you go ‘Oh, that’s the guy.’ He is something special to watch.”
NorCal trailed by double figures with less than four miinutes left, but whittled away. Finally, Ford’s late 3-pointer brought the North to within three points.
SoCal then missed a free throw and NorCal scrambled for the rebound and called a time out with 11 seconds left.
Ford, the Folsom star, figured to be closely guarded, so North coach Lou Richie decided to put the game in the hands of De La Salle standout Jordan Ratinho, who had already scored 20 points, including making 4 of 7 from beyond the arc. Ratinho got the shot off, but it banged off the back rim and the game ended.
“They wanted me to get the ball and dribble over,” said Ford, who was a chess whiz as a young boy. “They were trying to set an elevated screen for Jordan Ratinho to come up and shoot it. We got an OK look, but I feel like the screens could have been better. Without any practice and stuff, we executed it pretty well.”
Even though NorCal dropped both ends of the doubleheader – the 2017 team also lost, 135-114 – nobody seemed too crestfallen at the end as players from all the teams posed for pictures together, hugged and went away happy.
“We do this for the crowd,” Ford said. “The players had a great time – all respect to the players. It was great."
