T.J. Ford Academy led by Chris Johnson, Robert Miller and T.J. Ford Jr.

Missouri City, Texas – T.J. Ford continues to train and coach some of the top young basketball prospects in the Houston area and beyond. 

The former Naismith and Wooden Award winner — and NBA lottery pick — has opened up the T.J. Ford Academy in Missouri City to basketball players of all ages. The age group ranges from youth to high school, as well as college and a number of current NBA players. 

Ford teaches the game from the eyes of former NBA point guard with feel and skill level being developed to think like a point guard from every position on the floor. 

“You have got to have feel,” Ford told On3 Saturday. “That’s the ultimate thing of being a big-time or really good player. You have to have feel. Whether your team is struggling, what to do. If your team is hot, who to get the ball to and when. When guys are not in sync with each other, you have to know how to keep that together. There are a lot of moving parts and pieces of understanding the responsibilities of a point guard. That doesn’t have to be a player who plays point guard full time. That could be a center that has the mentality of a point guard, or a player at any position. We want all of the players we work with to develop the feel for the game.”

Ford’s AAU program T.J. Ford Elite will feature some of the top prospects in the Houston area this spring led by a top-35 prospect in the country: Chris Johnson.  

T.J. Ford breaks down On3 Consensus No. 34 Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson continues to be one of the most heavily recruited prospects in the country in the 2023 class. The offer list includes Kansas, LSU, Houston, Creighton, Texas A&M, Texas, TCU and Georgia. 

Johnson has been training and playing AAU with Ford since the eighth grade, so there is not a better person to get a breakdown of Johnson’s game. 

“Chris is a big-sized guard,” Ford says. “About 6-4, or maybe close to 6-5 at best. A guy that can handle the basketball, and has improved his jump shot since we began working with him in eighth grade to this point now. I feel like he is a two-way player that can give you an offensive threat, and defensively he can guard the opponents best player. Offensively, he rebounds well, and he can start your break.”

Ford sees the four-star prospect as a player that is continuing to develop into a combo guard.  

“When I look at him I feel like he can be used as a combo guard, and being a point guard at times during a game if you have shift someone over. Being able to be a shooting guard threat, and also having the ability to handle the ball and get you in an offense during a game shows he is worth a little bit more than others players at his position. He’s being taught how to play, and perform at that type of level.”

A big part of Ford’s continued development working with Johnson is being prepared mentally for everything that will be placed in front of him. 

“Just keep building his IQ at two different positions, and understand the flow of a game,” Ford added. “Be consistently mentally prepared for things that go on throughout the course of a game. Being able to keep composure.” 

Robert Miller will be a top 2024 prospect nationally

Class of 2024 power forward Robert Miller is quickly ascending in the Lone Star State and beyond. The son of a former LSU football player and a former WNBA basketball player recently picked up an offer from LSU.

The 6-foot-8.5, 205-pound skilled forward could be on the verge of picking up offers from Houston, Oklahoma and Texas in the coming weeks. 

Miller is one prospect Ford and his brother have been high on since first watching him, coaching him in AAU and training him. 

“My brother was in the gym at Baytown and saw him playing for Sterling,” Ford says. “He’s 6-8, long wingspan, has a high IQ, understands the game of basketball at his size, can rebound and has toughness. He can shoot on the perimeter and handle the basketball. Big-time shot blocker, he can run the floor and start the break. He’s a gym rat and a good teammate. He’s a unique talent. We will use him bringing the ball up and get the offense started.” 

T.J. Ford Jr. reaching new heights as a junior

Point guard T.J. Ford Jr. was brought up with an understanding of how to play the game. Add in a consistent perimeter game and ascending vertical jumping ability, and he is garnering attention from Creighton, LSU, Texas A&M and a growing list of others. 

The 5-foot-10 point guard with feel for the game showed he could handle adversity as a sophomore playing for Ridge Point.  

“Going from playing a minimal role in high school his sophomore season, he has gained a lot from a trial of the first in his life things didn’t go his way,” T.J Ford said. “I feel like he handled it well. He was a good teammate through the course of it, and he continued to train in the gym and keep working. When he had his opportunity near the end of the season, he performed.”

Ford carried over late season success to the spring and summer on the AAU circuit. And is now ascending as a junior for Ridge Point averaging over 16 points, five assists and four rebounds for what will be a playoff team. 

“Being able to come back this year, be the leader of the team with a winning record and perform at a high level has been good,” his father added. “When I look at his shooting ability with deep range, I feel like there are few people that can do it both ways. Being able to do it off the dribble, catch and shoot and being able to come off screens and shoot from deep is impressive. He always can get his shot off. He’s going to have his speed and quickness to start your break. He doesn’t always have to have the ball in his hands. You can allow him to use his shooting ability off the ball. There is a good foundation of personnel, and understands how to position himself well.” 

“… He can go into the paint and dunk off the dribble in games now. He can go chase down blocks. I was waiting for that to kick in, and he will get even better at it. I think once that continues to kick in, and he will get even better at it, that will be the difference in his growth as a player when we can put it all together.” 

Ford Jr. has an offer from Texas-Arlington currently.