Basketball

From homelessness to Alabama A&M, guard Darius Ford aims to 'serve Him'

By Elizabeth Donnelly Nov 12, 2024
(Photo courtesy of Darius Ford)

Darius Ford, a guard on the Alabama A&M basketball team, is a Fort Worth, Texas, native through and through. So how did he end up with the Bulldogs? Well, his journey to Huntsville, Alabama, has been anything but typical.

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Growing up with three younger siblings, Ford faced significant challenges, including homelessness. His early years were marked by instability as he and his family moved from place to place.

“For the majority of my life, I experienced a lot of traumatic experiences that not only shaped me into who I am, but allowed me to learn more about life and people,” Ford recently told Sports Spectrum. “One of the biggest things that shaped me was battling homelessness as a child. I remember staying with relatives and staying in motels just to have a place to rest at night. The journey of navigating through that experience was a lot to bear at times, but it has brought myself and my family closer through an unbreakable bond.”

“On my 16th birthday, I remember acknowledging what a marker it was to be 16 and how you are supposed to be elated at this age marker. I was excited the whole day of just making it this far,” Ford said. “Later that evening, I remember stepping out of the car looking at a motel that we had to stay in for that night. I instantly felt defeated and felt like there was nothing I could do to get out of this.

“I cried myself to bed the whole night, crying tears of regret and sorrow, feeling helpless in every way. Before I went to sleep, I asked God if He could get me out of this, I would serve Him for the rest of my life.”

God answered Ford’s prayer, and His answer came through basketball.

Ford was determined to play in college, but it seemed more like a closed door than an answered prayer at first. Upon his graduation from high school, there were no more roster spots for the 2020-21 season at TCU (in Fort Worth) due to COVID-19. However, he was offered the opportunity to be a manager that season, and he jumped at the chance. He became a first-generation college student.

As a manager, Ford worked tirelessly at every task assigned to him while also constantly working on his own game so he could earn a roster spot the following season. Early mornings and late nights in the gym, in addition to being a student during COVID, were a lot to bear, but he remained determined to realize his dream of becoming a Division-I college basketball player.

He was a walk-on for the Horned Frogs in 2021-22, and for three years he donned the purple and white. In those three years, he made three consecutive March Madness appearances, spearheaded a clothing drive resulting in more than 1,000 items of clothing being donated to a local community center, and he created the Darius Ford Change Maker Scholarship, awarded to a high school student in the community.

Darius Ford

Darius Ford at TCU. (Photo courtesy of Darius Ford)

The week that Ford moved into his dorm at TCU, in September 2020, he cried as he gave his life to Jesus. He decided, from that moment on, that he would serve God diligently for His glory alone. He references the Bible verse Hebrews 11:1 in his X bio and the name of Jesus on Instagram.

Ford told Sports Spectrum about internal and external struggles he has had to overcome in his walk with the Lord, such as judgment from others, people-pleasing, and losing friends — people questioning his relationship with God, people judging him because of their own expectations, losing friends for speaking the Gospel. And while all this was happening, he still sought to be faithful and hold true to the Word of God.

Ford learned that his adversity wasn’t a punishment, but a promotion. God has worked faith in him, which nothing on earth can snatch away. God gets the glory from Ford’s life as he is used and pruned by Him.

Living a Jesus-filled life is not easy, but the Bible provides encouragement. Romans 5:3-5 says, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

 

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Ford graduated from TCU in May, and upon graduation entered the transfer portal with eligibility remaining. Seeking to have a better opportunity of becoming a professional athlete, he gravitated toward Alabama A&M. The Bulldogs extended a scholarship offer and Ford accepted.

Resolute in faith, Ford is now in his fourth year of college basketball. He knows that, whatever his time in Huntsville holds, it is meant by God for Ford’s good. Alabama A&M has started the season with two big wins — the first over neighboring Oakwood University (121-78) and a second over Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock (103-57).

>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<

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