University of Georgia Athletics
Erika Ford Signs With Lady Bulldogs
November 10, 2010 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 10, 2010
ATHENS, Ga. --- Erika Ford, a 5-9 guard from Chattahoochee High School in Alpharetta, Ga., has inked a letter-of-intent to play basketball collegiately for the Georgia Lady Bulldogs, head coach Andy Landers announced on Wednesday.
Ford signed her papers during the first day of the NCAA's early signing period, which runs from November 10-17.
Ford, a three-year starter at Chattahoochee, has been rated as the nation's No. 55 overall prospect and the No. 8 guard by the All Star Girls Report.
"Erika is someone who has been our our radar for quite some time," Landers said. "We're extremely please that she is going to be part of our basketball program. Erika has terrific athleticism, great quickness and tremendous defensive abilities, along with an aggressive slashing offensive game."
Ford was named all-state for Class AAAAA as both a sophomore and a junior. She topped 1,000 career points as a sophomore and helped Chattahoochee's volleyball team to a runner-up finish in the Class AAAA state tournament.
"Erika is a great kid," Chattahoochee coach Eric Herrick said. "She's a fun-loving kid who is always a pleasure to be around. On the basketball court, she's a tremendous athlete with an even better work ethic. She has the competitive fire that every coach wants to have on their team. She's a leader not only in games but in practice every day. She sets the tone with her effort and she's a vocal leader as well. She makes sure that our team runs the way it's supposed to run and she's played a major role in the turnaround of our program at Chattahoochee High School."
After winning just five games in 2006-07, the Cougars won the Region 7AAAAA Championship and reached the "Sweet 16" round of the state tournament during Ford's freshman season. Chattahoochee also has advanced to each of the past two state tournaments.
"As a freshman, Erika led us to the Region Championship and the 'Sweet 16' of the state tournament, and she was Region Player of the Year," Herrick said. "She's had that kind of impact throughout her career here."
Georgia has long been one of the nation's premier women's basketball programs. The Lady Bulldogs rank No. 2 nationally in both weeks ranked by the Associated Press and NCAA Tournament appearances.
The 2010-11 edition of the Lady Bulldogs has been ranked No. 19 in pre-season Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls. Georgia opens the season this Sunday by hosting Georgia Southern at historic Stegeman Coliseum at 2 p.m.
