Aleem Ford

Aleem Ford's Biography

Aleem Ford, born on December 22, 1997, stands as a renowned figure in the basketball domain, renowned for his playing skill and enduring sportsmanship. He has the privilege of being associated with the Rip City Remix as a professional basketball player and is part of the NBA G League. Ford’s career that bridges Puerto Rican and American basketball demonstrates his fantastic athletic lineage and impressive internationally recognized skill set.

Ford’s eventual rise to the professional basketball ranks began within the humble confines of Archer High School. As a senior, his performances averaged an impressive 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. His consistent performance led to him earning All-Region 8-AAAAAA honors, marking his early promise as an exceptional basketball talent.

Ford’s pursuit of excellence led him to join IMG Academy in Florida as a post-graduate player, further fine-tuning his skills. He continued to improve, averaging 13.9 points and 6.3 rebounds. His ongoing rise as a basketball talent was, however, briefly brought to a halt when Ford redshirted his freshman season at Wisconsin due to a knee injury requiring surgery. Despite this setback, Ford averaged 5.8 points and 2.8 rebounds when he returned for his redshirt freshman season, setting the foundation for better seasons to come.

As a sophomore, Ford managed to maintain an average of 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds per game, a performance metric that further improved as a junior, where he averaged 8.6 points and 4.4 rebounds. As a senior, Ford’ stats continued to rise, achieving 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

In 2021, Ford made the crucial transition from collegiate play to professional basketball by joining Leones de Ponce of the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional. This noteworthy milestone came after Ford ranked first in their draft. Throughout 32 games, he maintained an average of 7.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game.

After an unfortunate oversight in the 2021 NBA draft left Ford undrafted, he promptly signed with the Lakeland Magic in the NBA G League. In his tenure with Lakeland Magic, Ford played in 12 games, managing to average 9.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in a span of 28.1 minutes per game.

The Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association signed Ford to a 10-day contract in December 2021. This fortuitous opportunity came during a shortage in the team’s player roster due to league COVID-19 protocols that led to an exciting professional debut against the Miami Heat, contributing 2 points and a steal to the Orlando Magic’s score.

On concluding his stint in the G League, Ford returned to Puerto Rico to rejoin Leones de Ponce, before making his way back to Lakeland Magic as part of the opening night roster in November 2022.

Ford’s career experienced another significant turn in October 2023 when he got signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers, even though it was short-lived. He was waived the same day, only to get picked up by another NBA G League team, the Cleveland Charge, a week later. After being traded to Wisconsin Herd in March 2024, Ford eventually returned to Leones de Ponce in April 2024.

In October 2024, the Rip City Remix added Ford to their roster, further solidifying his status as a seasoned G League basketball professional.

Apart from his unquestionable commitment to his basketball career, Ford proudly embraces his Puerto Rican heritage. He willingly chose to represent the Puerto Rico men’s national basketball team for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, showcasing his immense pride towards his roots.

He is the son of Steven and Zoraya Ford and boasts an elder sister, Medeenah, within his family. Ford graduated with a major in Communication Arts, demonstrating his committed passion beyond his athletic pursuits, providing unquestionable proof of him being an ambitious and diverse talent both within and beyond the basketball court.