{{short description|American-Puerto Rican basketball player}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Aleem Ford | image = Aleem Ford.jpg | image_size = | caption = | position = Small forward | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 8 | weight_lbs = 220 | league = BSN & FIBA Americas League | team = Leones de Ponce | number = 12 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|12|22}} | birth_place = Lawrenceville, Georgia, U.S. | nationality = Puerto Rican | high_school = * Archer (Lawrenceville, Georgia) * IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) | college = Wisconsin (2016–2021) | draft_year = 2021 | career_start = 2021 | career_end = | years1 = 2021 | team1 = Leones de Ponce | years2 = 2021–2022 | team2 = Lakeland Magic | years3 = {{nbay|2021|start}} | team3 = Orlando Magic | years4 = 2022 | team4 = Leones de Ponce | years5 = 2022–2023 | team5 = Lakeland Magic | years6 = 2023 | team6 = Leones de Ponce | years7 = 2023–2024 | team7 = Cleveland Charge | years8 = 2024 | team8 = Wisconsin Herd | years9 = 2024 | team9 = Leones de Ponce | years10 = 2024 | team10 = Rip City Remix | years11 = 2025–present | team11 = Leones de Ponce | highlights = }} '''Aleem Ford''' (born December 22, 1997) is an American-Puerto Rican<ref>{{cite web|title=Puerto Rico at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Qualifiers|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2023/americas-qualifiers/team/Puerto-Rico|website=FIBA.basketball|access-date=November 12, 2022}}</ref> professional basketball player for the Leones de Ponce of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) and the FIBA Americas League. He played college basketball for the Wisconsin Badgers.
==High school career== Ford initially attended Archer High School, where he averaged 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks as a senior, earning All-Region 8-AAAAAA honors.<ref name="WiscBio">{{cite web|title=Aleem Ford - 2020-21 Men's Basketball Roster|url=https://uwbadgers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/aleem-ford/8755|website=UWBadgers.com|access-date=December 18, 2021}}</ref> He later joined IMG Academy in Florida as a post-graduate player, averaging 13.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.<ref name="WiscBio" />
==College career== Ford redshirted his true freshman season at Wisconsin. He averaged 5.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game as a redshirt freshman. Following the season, he underwent knee surgery.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jim|last=Polzin|title=Badgers' Aleem Ford thrilled to be back on court after knee surgery|url=https://madison.com/wsj/sports/college/basketball/men/badgers-aleem-ford-thrilled-to-be-back-on-court-after-knee-surgery/article_92724d83-a0d8-5874-aa44-971ca84bf228.html|work=Wisconsin State Journal|date=November 26, 2018|access-date=December 18, 2021}}</ref> Ford averaged 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds per game as a sophomore.<ref>{{cite web|first=Benjamin|last=Worgull|title=Aleem Ford - Like Others on Wisconsin - Searching for Consistency|url=https://wisconsin.rivals.com/news/aleem-ford-like-others-on-wisconsin-searching-for-consistency|website=Rivals.com|date=February 2, 2021|access-date=December 18, 2021}}</ref> He averaged 8.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game as a junior.<ref>{{cite news|first=Asher|last=Low|title=Aleem Ford could be next season's x-factor|url=https://badgerswire.usatoday.com/2020/03/22/aleem-ford-could-be-next-seasons-x-factor/|work=Badgers Wire|date=March 22, 2020|access-date=December 18, 2021}}</ref> As a senior, Ford averaged 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.<ref name="BSNDraft">{{cite web|first=Luis|last=Modestti|title=Ford selected first in BSN Draft|url=https://www.latinbasket.com/Puerto-Rico/news/680883/Ford-selected-first-in-BSN-Draft|website=Latinbasket.com|date=April 25, 2021|access-date=December 18, 2021}}</ref>
==Professional career== ===Leones de Ponce (2021)=== Ford began his professional career in 2021 with the Leones de Ponce of the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional, after being selected first in their draft.<ref name="BSNDraft" /> In 32 games, he averaged 7.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.4 steals and 0.2 blocks per game.<ref name="Kenney2021">{{cite news|first=Ben|last=Kenney|title=Former Badger Aleem Ford signs to a G-League roster|url=https://badgerswire.usatoday.com/2021/11/04/former-badger-aleem-ford-signs-to-a-g-league-roster/|work=Badgers Wire|date=November 4, 2021|access-date=December 18, 2021}}</ref>
===Lakeland / Orlando Magic (2021–2022)=== After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Ford signed with the Lakeland Magic of the NBA G League on November 4, 2021.<ref name="Kenney2021" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Lakeland Magic 2021-22 Training Camp Roster|url=https://lakeland.gleague.nba.com/news/lakeland-magic-2021-22-training-camp-roster/|website=NBA.com|date=October 28, 2021|access-date=December 18, 2021}}</ref> In 12 games, he averaged 9.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 28.1 minutes per game.<ref name="Orl10D">{{cite web|title=Orlando Magic Sign Ford, Gravett, Johnson and Schofield to 10-Day Contracts|url=https://www.nba.com/magic/orlando-magic-sign-ford-gravett-johnson-and-schofield-10-day-contracts-20211217|website=NBA.com|date=December 17, 2021|access-date=December 18, 2021}}</ref>
On December 17, 2021, Ford was one of four players signed to 10-day contracts by the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association, when the team did not have enough players to play their home game that evening due to league COVID-19 protocols.<ref name="Orl10D" /> He made his NBA debut that evening, scoring 2 points and recording a steal in a 115–105 loss to the Miami Heat.<ref>{{cite web|first=Khobi|last=Price|title=Magic sign 4 players ahead of home loss to Heat after 4 more Orlando players enter health and safety protocols|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-sp-magic-heat-friday-20211217-txe2gud7m5erhpasdw2tkzqxgy-story.html|website=Orlando Sentinel|date=December 18, 2021|access-date=December 18, 2021}}</ref> On December 27, he was reacquired by Lakeland.<ref>{{cite web|title=2021-22 NBA G League transactions|url=https://gleague.nba.com/transactions/|website=NBA.com|access-date=January 7, 2022}}</ref>
===Return to Leones de Ponce (2022)=== After the conclusion of the G League season, Ford returned to Leones de Ponce.<ref>{{cite web|title=El centro Marvin Jones será el segundo refuerzo de los Leones de Ponce|url=https://www.primerahora.com/deportes/baloncesto/notas/el-centro-marvin-jones-sera-el-segundo-refuerzo-de-los-leones-de-ponce/|website=PrimeraHora.com|date=March 19, 2022|access-date=April 15, 2022|language=Spanish}}</ref>
===Return to Lakeland (2022–2023)=== On November 3, 2022, Ford was named to the opening night roster for the Lakeland Magic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/lakeland-magic-announce-2022-23-opening-night-roster/n-5895510|title=Lakeland Magic Announce 2022-23 Opening Night Roster|website=oursportscentral.com|date=November 3, 2022|access-date=November 3, 2022}}</ref>
===Third stint with Leones de Ponce (2023)=== On March 30, 2023, Ford returned to Leones de Ponce of the Puerto Rican league<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1641544736262754305|title=OFICIAL: El delantero Aleem Ford se integrará este domingo a los Leones de Ponce según confirmó el apoderado Gerardo "Jerry" Misla.|date=March 30, 2023|user=LaGuerraBSN|author=La Guerra del BSN|access-date=April 7, 2023}}</ref>
===Cleveland Charge (2023–2024)=== On October 21, 2023, Ford signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but was waived the same day,<ref>{{cite web|first=Arthur|last=Hill|title=Cavaliers Waive Seven Players|url=https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2023/10/cavaliers-waive-seven-players.html|website=HoopsRumors.com|date=October 21, 2023|access-date=October 30, 2023}}</ref> and one week later, he signed with the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cleveland Charge 2023 Training Camp Roster|url=https://cleveland.gleague.nba.com/news/cleveland-charge-2023-training-camp-roster|website=NBA.com|date=October 28, 2023|access-date=October 30, 2023}}</ref>
===Wisconsin Herd (2024)=== On March 4, 2024, Ford was traded to the Wisconsin Herd.<ref>{{cite web|title=WISCONSIN HERD ACQUIRES ALEEM FORD|url=https://wisconsin.gleague.nba.com/news/wisconsin-herd-acquires-aleem-ford|website=NBA.com|date=March 4, 2024|access-date=March 4, 2024}}</ref>
===Third stint with Leones (2024)=== In April, 2024, Ford returned to the Leones de Ponce.<ref>{{cite web|title=Regular Season Round 4: Quebradillas - Ponce 99-64|url=https://www.latinbasket.com/boxScores/Puerto%20Rico/2024/0409_20147_1954.asp|website=LatinBasket.com|date=April 9, 2024|access-date=April 10, 2024}}</ref>
===Rip City Remix (2024–present)=== On October 28, 2024, Ford joined the Rip City Remix.<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Rip City Remix|title=Your official 2024 Remix training camp roster 🫨💿|number=1850928196042346714|user=ripcityremix|date=October 28, 2024|access-date=November 4, 2024}}</ref>
==International career== Ford is of Puerto Rican descent. He opted to play for the Puerto Rico men's national basketball team for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elnuevodia.com/deportes/baloncesto/notas/para-largo-el-compromiso-de-aleem-ford-con-la-seleccion-nacional/|title=Para largo el compromiso de Aleem Ford con la Selección Nacional|date=November 10, 2022|website=El Nuevo Día}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{NBA player statistics legend}}
===NBA=== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2021}} | style="text-align:left;"| Orlando | 5 || 0 || 14.8 || .300 || .133 || — || 3.0 || .4 || .2 || .0 || 2.8 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 5 || 0 || 14.8 || .300 || .133 || — || 3.0 || .4 || .2 || .0 || 2.8 {{S-end}}
==Personal life== The son of Steven and Zoraya Ford, he has an older sister, Medeenah. He majored in Communication Arts.<ref name="WiscBio" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://uwbadgers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/aleem-ford/8755 Wisconsin Badgers bio] *[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/aleem-ford-1.html College stats @ sports-reference.com]
{{Rip City Remix current roster}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ford, Aleem}} Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup players Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:American men's basketball players Category:American people of Puerto Rican descent Category:Sportspeople of Puerto Rican descent Category:Basketball players at the 2024 Summer Olympics Category:Basketball players from Gwinnett County, Georgia Category:Cleveland Charge players Category:IMG Academy alumni Category:Lakeland Magic players Category:Leones de Ponce basketball players Category:Olympic basketball players for Puerto Rico Category:Orlando Magic players Category:Puerto Rican men's basketball players Category:Puerto Rico men's national basketball team players Category:Rip City Remix players Category:Small forwards Category:Sportspeople from Lawrenceville, Georgia Category:Undrafted NBA players Category:Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball players Category:Wisconsin Herd players