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Ford is blessed to be playing
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Playing basketball was something that might was far fetched for Jamal Ford, a 6-foot-5 promising junior wingman from Sacred Heart Cathedral. At the start of the school year, Ford had open heart surgery to remove a clot in his heart. Ford was in class when he started to get really dizzy.
"I called my mom telling her that I was not feeling good," said Ford. "She rushed up to the school and took me to the hospital. They took x-rays and found out about the clot."
After having the surgery he was at home for three weeks recuperating, but playing basketball was something that was heavily on his mind. The year before, Ford was a vital reserve and part of Sacred Heart's push to the NorCal Division III title game, in which the Irish lost to Sacramento High. Ford wanted to be part of this year's team but first, he had to focus in on school.
"I had to first get his grades back up for school, as I missed a lot of days and I had lots of work," said Ford. "I also had to do a lot of tests, blood check-ups. I also had to wait to have his chest healed."
During this process though, Ford was often in the gym by himself, working on his shot, lightly running and waiting for the day to step back on the court, which was something his parents encouraged as long as Jamal wanted it.
"My biggest concern was just him being okay," said Elijah Ford, Jamal's father. "His surgery put life in perspective for me and my family. I was thinking a sense of him being able to go out and be a normal kid."
It took a three-month process, but Ford came back in early February and was thrown out on the court. At first his minutes were spotted. He would play in blowouts or early in games just to get his feet wet. But as the basketball season wore on down the stretch, Ford got in more games, based on his defensive lock-down ability.
His proudest moment of the season was in the CIF NorCal Division III finals in the rematch game against Sacramento High. His play was the difference in that game, which helped Sacred Heart beat Sacramento High. Ford scored 11 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and had 4 steals, in the Irish's 77 to 65 victory.
"I was just happy that we won, we played as a team and I contributed," said a modest Ford. "I felt excited and energetic that I was on the court making a difference again."
In the state championship game, Ford's play was hampered by foul trouble, but his defense in holding in check Ocean View's offensive stalwart Anthony Brown, a 6-foot-6 wing, helped contribute to the Sacred Heart victory for the Division III state championship.
Before the pre-season injury, various schools inquired about Ford included the University of Denver, Portland, San Diego, Penn, Creighton and USF. Schools were intrigued by his versatility as a player. Ford hopes that this schools can follow him as he plays club basketball this summer for the prestigous Oakland Soldiers club team as he prepares for his final year in high school.
Next year, Ford should be one of the marquee players for Sacred Heart Cathedral which lost five seniors who either started or played intrical roles on this past year's team. But that will not deter Ford who said he will be ready for next season.
"I am working as hard as a can in the off-season to get better, bigger and stronger and try to show I can be a dominant player," continued Ford.
Basketball was something he once took for granted, but now he truly looks forward to playing each time out on the court.
"I am playing every game as if it is my last game," continued Ford. "I am leaving everything out on the court each time I play."
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