Temple University Athletics
Temple Men’s Basketball Announces Return of Derrian Ford for 2026-27 Season
9.17.26 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – Temple University men's basketball head coach Adam Fisher announced Thursday that fifth-year guard Derrian Ford will return for the 2026-27 season.
Ford emerged as one of the American Conference's top scorers during his first season at Temple in 2025-26. The Magnolia, Arkansas, native started all 31 games in which he appeared and averaged a team-high 18.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He also led the Owls in 3-point percentage (37.9%) and free-throw percentage (85.2%). Ford ranked fourth in the conference in scoring and free throws made with 167.
Ford scored at least 20 points in 14 contests, including a career-high 27 points against Saint Joseph's in the Philadelphia Big 5 Classic. He scored his 1,000th career point at UTSA on Jan. 24 and earned American Conference Player of the Week honors after scoring 23 points in a road victory over Davidson. His 167 free throws made ranked ninth in Temple single-season history and were the most by an Owl since 2012-13.
Following the season, Ford earned American Conference Third Team, American Conference All-Newcomer Team, NABC All-Mid-Atlantic District Second Team and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors. He was also named to the All-Big 5 First Team and received the Palumbo Award as the Big 5's leading scorer, becoming the first Temple player to win the award since Shizz Alston Jr. in 2018-19.
Before arriving at Temple, Ford spent one season at Arkansas and two at Arkansas State. He appeared in 21 games as a freshman with the Razorbacks in 2022-23. Ford then played in 70 games, making 45 starts, over two seasons at Arkansas State and averaged 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. As a sophomore, he averaged 10.4 points and 4.4 rebounds while leading the Red Wolves with 64 made 3-pointers and helping the program reach the Sun Belt championship game. He followed by averaging 8.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game as a junior, scoring in double figures 13 times.
Ford was a four-star recruit at Magnolia High School, where he led the Panthers to three Arkansas Class 4A state championships and 102 career victories. The two-time Gatorade Arkansas Player of the Year and three-time state tournament MVP averaged 23.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists as a senior while guiding Magnolia to a 30-0 record.
