MBB's Ford Named to D3hoops.com All-Northeast Team
NEW LONDON, Conn. – Mitchell College men's basketball player Joshua Ford was named to the D3hoops.com 2013 All-Northeast Region fourth team, as announced by the web site on Wednesday.
Ford, a junior forward, was one of 20 players in the region honored by the site. He becomes the first Mitchell basketball player to earn the distinction since the program joined the Division III ranks in 2004-05.
Players were nominated by sports information directors at various schools, and a total of 729 players were nominated nationwide. Regional voting was then conducted among SIDs. Team sizes were determined by the number of schools in each region.
The honor capped an already decorated season for Ford, who was also tabbed New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Player of the Year and repeated as an All-NECC First Team selection. He was the first Mitchell men's basketball player to be named player of the year and was also the first junior to win the award in the conference's history.
Ford led the league in shooting at 63 percent and averaged 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in conference play. A complete player, he ranked among the top five in the conference in scoring (2nd), rebounding (3rd), assists (2nd), steals (3rd), blocks (3rd), field goals (1st), field goal percentage (1st), free throws (2nd), minutes (4th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (5th). He scored in double figures in 15 of 16 NECC contests and recorded nine double-doubles.
Ford started and played in all 26 games this season and averaged 22.3 points per contest. His 580 points ranked second in the school's Division III single season history while his 286 rebounds topped the single season record he set last season (269). On the national scene, he ranks fifth in the country in field goal percentage, 10th in scoring, 10th in rebounding and 12th in double-doubles.
Mitchell (14-12 overall, 9-7 NECC) enjoyed its best season since joining the DIII ranks. The Mariners qualified for the NECC Championship as the fourth seed and picked up their first-ever NECC postseason victory by a 77-75 final over Becker College in the first round. Mitchell advanced to the semifinals and nearly upset top-seeded Elms College before being eliminated in an 80-78 final.
2013 D3hoops.com Northeast Region Awards
Player of the Year: Aaron Toomey, G, Amherst
Coach of the Year: Mike Maker, Williams
Rookie of the Year: Tom Palleschi, C, Tufts
First Team
G – Aaron Toomey, Amherst, Jr., Greensboro, N.C.
G – Tahrike Carter, Rhode Island College, Sr., Brooklyn, N.Y.
F – Will Tashman, MIT, Sr., Atherton, Calif.
F – Willy Workman, Amherst, Sr., Northampton, Mass.
C – Michael Mayer, Williams, Jr. Durham, N.C.
Second Team
G – Joey Kizel, Middlebury, Jr., Short Hills, N.J.
G – Mitchell Kates, MIT, Sr., Colts Neck, N.J.
G – Alex Berthiaume, Springfield, Sr., Springfield, Mass.
F – Anthony Click, Anna Maria, Sr., Springfield, Mass.
F – Taylor Epley, Williams, Jr., Louisville, Ky.
Third Team
G – Lee Vazquez, Westfield State, Sr., Attleboro, Mass.
G – Sedale Jones, Curry, Sr., Pittsfield, Mass.
G – Nolan Thompson, Middlebury, Sr., Akron, Ohio
F – Mark Comstock, Castleton State, Sr., Rutland, Vt.
C – Peter Kaasila, Amherst, Sr., Plaistow, N.H.
Fourth Team
G – Darius Watson, Albertus Magnus, Jr., New Britain, Conn.
G – Marco Coppola, WPI, So., Watertown, Mass.
G – Gabriel Moton, Brandeis, Jr., St. Petersburg, Fla.
F – Joshua Ford, Mitchell, Jr., Jersey City, N.J.
C – Matt Devine, Westfield State, Sr., Pembroke, Mass.