Ford Taking Pride In Under the Radar Role for Robert Morris

When Chris Ford takes the floor for the Robert Morris Colonials, he oftentimes goes unnoticed. He’s not the flashiest of players or the loudest. He’s not someone that will take the ball with a shot-first mentality or a selfish player by any means.

He’s quite the opposite, and that’s exactly how Ford wants it to be.

Ford has quickly taken on the role as the “glue guy” for Robert Morris this season, especially as of late and he has embraced that.

“Doing the stuff that nobody else wants to do,” Ford said about his responsibilities for the Colonials. “Getting on the floor for loose balls, rebounding, boxing out, playing defense, defending the other team’s best players, facilitating, getting guys shots. All the little stuff that doesn’t necessarily go in the box score is what I focus on.”

The junior was thrust into the starting lineup for the first time of his collegiate career on Dec. 31 and has suddenly found himself as an integral part of the Colonials’ rotation.

Robert Morris Colonials guard Chris Ford (23) November 16, 2022 David Hague/PSN

It is a stark contrast from earlier this season when Ford was kept out of the lineup in its entirety for two consecutive games at the beginning of December.

Since then, Ford has put in the work that has made him one of the more trustworthy members of the Colonials’ roster.

“It’s not easy and it’s something that I don’t take for granted because it’s something that can be taken just like that,” Ford said. “You work your whole life to be a college basketball player and to now be a big part and a guy that’s relied on, it means a lot to me. I just want to keep doing what got me in this position and keep proving to everybody that I belong.”

Part of the reason that Ford has earned the trust from the coaching staff is due to his work habits, which earned him a career-high 28 minutes in RMU’s win over IUPUI last Saturday.

“Over the last couple weeks, his consistency in his energy and effort have made it very easy for us to put him on the floor,” head coach Andy Toole said. “It’s a credit to his approach that he continues to show up, he continues to work, and there’s some days I’m really hard on him, but he comes back the next day ready to work again.”

As Toole mentioned, he can be hard at times on players, but Ford has taken that and used it to motivate himself and push harder.

“It’s tough the way he coaches, but at the end of the day, he’s a competitor and wants to win and he’s done that, so I’d be a fool to not listen to him,” Ford said.

Robert Morris Colonials guard Chris Ford (23) February 28, 2023 David Hague/PSN

With that mentality, Ford has garnered respect from around the team, including someone who has played in the college ranks for five years now.

“Every single day Chris come in, he come to work every day,” graduate senior Markeese Hastings said. “Coach gets on him a lot. It’s all love. Every single day, he takes it, puts his head down and keeps working. I’ve never heard C4 talk back. In my five and a half years, I’ve never seen nobody like C4. He puts his head down and works, that’s all he knows.”

Earning that type of praise from a player like Hastings, who has been around several different programs speaks volumes on Ford’s character.

“That means a lot coming from him because he’s a guy I admire as well on how he comes in and prepares and plays. To get that pat on the back means a lot. That’s my guy,” Ford said about Hastings.

Similar to Hastings, this is not Ford’s first collegiate stop. Out of high school, Ford committed to Davidson and spent his freshman year there where he appeared in eight games, averaging just over a point and a rebound per contest.

For Ford, the decision was easy to play for the Wildcats with the college just 11 miles from where he played high school ball at North Mecklenburg in North Carolina.

“At the time, it seemed like the right choice. It was right down the street. A great conference, a great school academically and on the court. Great coach in Bob McKillop and it seemed like the right situation for me,” Ford said.

Before Ford made the transition to college, he built an impressive career at North Mecklenburg.

With the Vikings, Ford poured in over 1,300 points and was named the District 9 Player of the Year during his senior season.

Up next for the Top 10 scorers in our history…

6. Chris Ford @cford_ – 1,375 points

Chris averaged 19.6 PPG, 9.6 RPG his senior year & won a state championship his junior year at North. Was 4x All-Conference in high school & was named the 2021 District 9 POY. pic.twitter.com/nXYWaFNnk5

— North Meck Hoops (@northmeckbball) September 3, 2022

“Some of my fondest memories of basketball memories came from there,” Ford said. “North was great for me as far as my development and my understanding of what it takes to be a good basketball player. Me and the coach there had a great relationship. Me and the players had a great relationship. Even off the court, North was a great place for me academically and friends wise.”

Longtime North head coach Duane Lewis was an instrumental part in Ford’s growth, he says.

“He took me under his wing, let me make the freshman mistakes and play through them, learn through them,” Ford said. “He would correct me if I was wrong. He always believed in me from day one and gave me the confidence to play the game how I play it and he’s a big part of the player I am today.”

It has come full circle for Ford. From his high school days where he was a massive part of the Vikings’ success to now where he’s been a significant part of the Colonials recent run.

“I pride myself on being the same guy day in and day out,” Ford said. “They made it clear for me my path of success, so I just try and focus on that.”

Robert Morris Colonials guard Chris Ford (23) January 29, 2023 David Hague/PSN

There’s a reason Ford has been leaned on so much from the coaching staff and it has started to show recently.

“They laugh at me because sometimes I’m out of my mind, but I’ve said to Chris, ‘can you can be the best screener in the country? Do you know how impactful that can be for your team if you can get Josh [Corbin] one more shot or you can get Justice [Williams] an opportunity to get downhill,” Toole said.

“All those things that people think aren’t cool can really impact the way you are able to function,” he added. “We try to celebrate and see those things. At some places those things aren’t as valued, but we’ve always had guys in our program, they do the right things with energy and intensity, they can help you win games.”

Placing an emphasis on the little things, Ford has grasped that role and has quickly thrived in it for the Colonials.

Maybe his 3.2 points per game or 3.3 rebounds a night aren’t overwhelming, but it’s the small plays that make a huge difference and that’s why Ford has become so exceptionally important for this Robert Morris team.