Ford signs with UTSA

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast men's basketball forward Phoenix Ford has signed with NCAA Division I UTSA.

"For a big kid his size, 6-8, 225, he's a very, very versatile player, especially on the defensive end," Gulf Coast coach Wendell Weathers said. "He's capable of guarding most anybody 1 through 5. He's got the size the Division I people are looking for. He's an athletic kid who puts the ball on the floor really well. In the right situation, his best basketball is still ahead of him."

Ford, a transfer from the University of Richmond, averaged 6.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-8 forward from St. Petersburg, Fla., will have three years of eligibility at UTSA.

"I learned to focus and concentrate on what matters," he said. "It was mainly getting back to the main reason why I started playing basketball."

UTSA, in San Antonio, plays in Conference USA. The Roadrunners, coached by Steve Henson, went 17-15 last season and finished in a three-way tie for second in the conference.

"I chose UTSA for one main reason: family," Ford said. "They embraced me immediately, the coaching staff and players."

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