Ford blew me away off the top at the PGH Freshman Showcase with her intensity in the 3-on-3, yet that energy didn’t stop when everything went live in the 5-on-5; see evaluations here. When you fall into that “never takes a play off” group, that’s special, and her defense both inside and outside the paint created some problems. She hit the boards on both ends and finished strong around the basket. Her midrange jumper also looked good, but keep in mind she’s just shy of “the magic number” but plays above it

Ford impressed both Nicole and me during the 3 on 3 games with her intensity on defense see evalautions here, but when you fall into that “never takes a play off” group, you’re ahead of the curve. She’s long and athletic and a couple of shades shy of “the magic number,” but that doesn’t matter because she plays above it; yeah, I’m dropping #THROWBACK. On offense, she went berserk, dropping the mid- to long-range and finishing off the dribble acrobatically, but her “catch and shoot” was another plus, as was her timing to block shots

The premier performer of the 3-on-3 contest, Atalia Ford Atalia Ford 5'10" | SF/SG Lake Ridge | 2030 State TX delivered a magnificent two-way performance and was the best player, hands down, I evaluated. Ford has an exceptionally high basketball IQ and a versatile skill set that allows her to contribute in multiple facets of the game. Offensively, she attacked the paint with authoritative drives and converted consistently with her signature scoop layup, while also proving lethal from beyond the three-point line. A factor on the glass, she regularly tracked down offensive and defensive rebounds. Defensively, she was rock-solid, playing tough, aggressive on-ball defense and keeping her opponent contained at all times. Ford’s combination of inside-outside scoring and defensive dominance made her the most impactful player on the floor.  Atalia Ford Atalia Ford 5'10" | SF/SG Lake Ridge | 2030 State TX is THAT GIRL!

Ford left me with a lasting first impression as she defended strongly inside the paint and moved fluidly to guard her man on the perimeter. She also went AFTA the ball off the rim with authority, and seeing her use the slight HEZ, or explode off the dribble to score, were also pluses, yes, after contact