It didn’t take long for Christian Ford to make a positive impact on his new team. In the season-opener, Ford’s 3-pointer with 9.5 seconds left in overtime gave Nottingham’s basketball team a one-point lead that turned into a 60-57 victory over Ewing.
It was Ford’s first game as a Northstar after playing for three seasons at Trenton Catholic Academy. But he made sure not to make that the highlight of his senior season.
As the end of January approached, Ford was one of four Northstars averaging double figures as he was at 11.8 points per game in Nottingham’s 10-3 start. He was also doing a whole lot of other things.
“He’s one of those guys on the court who can do a little bit of everything,” coach Chris Raba said. “He can handle the ball, shoot the ball, he can pass.”
And what does Raba want him to do?
“A little bit of everything,” the coach said with a grin.
Which is exactly the role Ford wants to play, and a reason he transferred from TCA.
“My senior year, I just wanted to have fun,” he said. “I just wanted to get to do what I didn’t get to do before, and be myself and play my game.”
Ford attended Wilson Elementary School and Reynolds Middle School, and played recreation ball in Ewing before enrolling at Trenton Catholic as a freshman. He played just one varsity game as a freshman and seven as a sophomore, but was exposed to some tremendous talent in teammates Myles Powell and fellow Hamiltonian Malachi Richardson (now with the Sacramento Kings).
“I think it really helped playing with players like that,” Ford said. “They get you ready to know what you’re going to expect at the next level. You look at their talent, watch them in practice, go against them and just try and do what you can do. Seeing what Malachi could do and going against him in practice, it was pretty hard to guard him but you learn things.”
Ford became a starter his junior year and averaged 7.7 points for a fairly young Iron Mikes team. When he decided to transfer to Nottingham, his first order of business was to learn about his new teammates by playing summer basketball with them.
“I had to adjust to them a lot,” Ford said. “During the summer, that’s what I mostly came in to do. Get in here, get in the gym, work with the guys, know what they can do and can’t do; and help (play to) their strengths.”
Ford felt the summer “helped a lot,” as he learned plays, figured out where to get players the ball and have them understand where he wanted the ball.
‘He understands what we have here and he’s so dynamic.’
Raba felt Ford’s summer play was important, and also gives him credit for knowing how to adapt. Having a newcomer was a bit risky this year as Nottingham was bringing back a team with plenty of chemistry and unselfishness. Sometimes a transfer from a state power program will expect to take over and be the man.
Ford, who knew several of his new teammates from growing up, did none of that. Besides, Nottingham already had “the man” in junior Cliff Joseph.
“He’s the kind of kid who can just blend in,” Raba said. “He’s a basketball player. He understands what we have here and he’s so dynamic. He can guard a perimeter guy, he can guard a big guy.”
He can also score pretty well too, be it from behind the arc, in the post or on the wing. Ford hit double figures in 10 of the Northstars’ first 13 games, with a season-high of 20 against a talented Bordentown team.
His three-pointer against Ewing (which was followed by a steal and lay-up for Nottingham to make it a three-point win) helped set a positive tone for the season as Nottingham hadn’t beaten the Blue Devils in five years.
“Last year (Nottingham) started 0-6 and Ewing ended their season (in the state tournament),” Ford said. “This year I knew coming in that Ewing was a big game for us. I knew I had to step up, we all knew we had to step up and show what we can do this year. I think that win really started something real special for us.”
Raba, not one to make rash statements, has commented several times this season that this year’s team is a “special group.” The chemistry was good and the insertion of Ford in the lineup only made it better.
Ford feels that Raba is a big part of the reason, as the coach knew how to use him.
“He understands us,” Ford said. “He knows what we want to do, what we can do. He tells us for real what we need to do.”
But that doesn’t mean much if the player doesn’t pay attention.
“He’s been a blessing, a coach’s dream,” the coach said. “He listens. Everything we tell him to do, he does. He’s brought a lot of experience, and he’s very, very coachable. He’s fit right in with these guys, and they’re all sacrificing for each other. We’ve got four guys averaging double digits, and they can all average a lot more if they were on any other team.”
‘Watching him grow, I think he’s gonna be something special.’
The one who would thrive the most is Joseph, who scored his 1,000th point on Jan. 20 in an 86-40 win over Hightstown. Joseph is one of Mercer County’s top players and has been the Northstars driving force for three seasons. Ford never tried to take over that role, for he appreciates what his younger teammate brings to the table.
“I think he’s a real special thing for this team,” Ford said. “Watching him grow, I think he’s gonna be something special. And teams coming in think they have to stop him, they don’t know about the rest of us. He drives, then kicks it (to a teammate) and then a bucket.”
As the regular season was winding down, Nottingham’s performances were conjuring images of some deep runs in the state and county tournaments. That’s when the games get tougher and the stage is bigger, which is something Ford knows all about playing at TCA.
“Christian brings a lot of experience in those big-time games,” Raba said. “TCA played a state-caliber schedule. He’s played in big games versus some big-time prep and parochial schools. We’re really lucky he transferred in.”
Ford said he would try and supply a calming presence once the pressure games come up. He will also continue to showcase his own game as he has received interest from Division II and Division III colleges.
“I just work on my ball handling getting a little tighter in practice,” he said. “I work on shooting, free throws, rebounding. I want to do it all. I’m trying to be an all-around player in college and showcase what I do.”
His one season at Nottingham has been quite a showcase indeed.
Nottingham High’s Christian Ford controls the ball during the Northstars’ 69-44 win against Hopewell Jan. 3, 2017. (Photo by Wes Kirkpatrick.),
