Alton Ford
From Hoopedia
| ||
| Forward | ||
| Personal information | ||
| Date of birth | May 29, 1981 | |
| Place of birth | Houston, Texas | |
| Nationality |  American
| |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 | |
| Listed weight | 280 lbs | |
| Career information | ||
| College | Houston | |
| NBA Draft | 2001; Round: 2 / Pick: 51st | |
| Selected by the Phoenix Suns | ||
| Pro career | 2001-present | |
| League | none | |
| Career history | ||
| ||
| Career highlights and awards | ||
| ||
| Alton Ford at NBA.com | ||
Alton Ford, Jr. (born May 29, 1981, in Houston, Texas, USA) is an American professional basketball player. The University of Houston forward Alton Ford became the Suns' fourth consecutive early entry pick (Jake Tsakalidis, 2000; Shawn Marion, 1999; Stephen Jackson, 1997) when he was tabbed in the second round (51st overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft. Ford played only one year collegiately at Houston, averaging 10.8 points and 5.9 rebounds, after he was a finalist for the Naismith High School Player of the Year award. Known for his tremendous strength and toughness, Ford demonstrated his power at a pre-draft camp in Chicago, Illinois when the 6-9, 275-pound forward bench pressed 185 pounds 21 times.
Contents |
High School
Ford attended high school at Milby High School, in Houston, Texas. A McDonald's All-American, Ford averaged 23.5 points, 15.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocked shots per game as a senior and was a finalist for the Naismith High School boy's basketball Player-of-the-Year award. Ford was ranked among the nation's top 10 recruits by ESPN and Fans Only, and was listed among the top 11 high school recruits by Van Coleman's Future Stars and Basketball News. The Sporting News also listed him as the best senior post player and 13th best overall recruit. The Texas High School Player of the Year in 1999-2000 ended his high school career as the first four-year starter at Houston's Milby High School. Ford owns Milby's career records in scoring (2,162 pts), rebounding (1,381) and blocked shots (268). He earned Parade Magazine All-America honors as a junior, averaging 22 points, 12 rebounds and 3.1 blocks in 1998-99.
College
Ford attended college at the University of Houston. Ford was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team and the Fourth-Team All-NCAA Freshman team by the Bob Gibbons All-Star Report after playing in 26 games, including 18 starts for the Houston Cougars as a freshman. He started the final seven games of the season and led the Cougars in scoring and rebounding during four of those contests. Ford ranked third among team leaders in scoring and rebounding with 10.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. His scoring average ranks seventh on Houston's all-time freshman list and his 5.9 rebounds ranks fifth. He recorded his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds against Saint Louis in the OCG Conference USA Tournament. Ford's first double-double came against Louisiana State when he scored 17 points and grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds. He scored in double figures 14 times. Ford led Houston with a career-high 24 points against Tulane in the final regular season game. He led the Cougars with a career-high four blocked shots against Saint Louis.
Professional Career
NBA
Ford was selected in the second round (51st pick overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. He played with the Suns from 2001 to 2003, and then with the Houston Rockets in the 2003-04 NBA season. He averaged 2.5 points per game in his three year, 73 game NBA stint. In 2005, he attended Sacramento Kings preseason camp, but never played a regular season game with the team.
International
During the 2003-2004 season, he played in Italy and France. In November of 2004, Ford signed at Fujian SBS XunXin in China. During the 2005-2006, he played with Greece's PAOK Thessaloniki, for only the pre-season, then joined Poland's WTK Anwil Wloclawek. In December 2007, he signed with the BC Igokea Partizan Aleksandrovac.
NBA D-League
For the 2008-2009 season, For played for the NBA D-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He averaged 9.9 points per game with the squad, playing in 21 games. In February 2009, he signed with the Reno Bighorns. He played 15 games with the Bighorns, averaging 9.2 points per game.
