Ford, Walker Earn Big Sky Recognition
3/7/2024 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Robert Ford III selected Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Big Sky, and All-Defensive Team, Walker named Honorable Mention All-Big Sky
FARMINGTON, Utah – Robert Ford III earned Montana State's third consecutive Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year award, highlighting the announcement of the 2023-2024 Big Sky All-Conference Teams and All-Defensive Team on Thursday.
Ford, a redshirt senior from Portland, Oregon, was also selected First Team All-Conference and to the All-Defensive Team. Brandon Walker, a sophomore from Oak Cliff, Texas, was selected Honorable Mention All-Big Sky.
Ford follows Jubrile Belo (2022) and Darius Brown II (2023) as recent Bobcats to earn Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year.
The guard ranks second in NCAA Division I in steals (90) and third in steals per game (2.90), and is on the heels of Chris Conway for most steals in a single season in program history. Conway tallied 94 steals during the 1987-1988 season.
Ford has 11 games with at least four steals this season, including a 7-steal game against Green Bay on November 20, 2023, tied for the second-most in a single game in program history.
Ford is Montana State's sixth First Team All-Conference selection in the last six years. The team captain ranks fifth in the Big Sky in scoring (15.3 ppg), third in rebounding (7.7 rpg), first in steals (90), seventh in free throw percentage (77.6%), fourth in three-point field goals per game (2.3), 11th in assists (2.9 apg), and seventh in minutes (33.7 mpg).
Ford has scored in double-figures in 23 games this season, gone for 20-plus points on eight occasions, and has recorded six double-doubles. Among all players in the country shorter than 6-foot-3, the 6-foot guard is second in NCAA Division I in rebounding (7.7).
Nationally, Ford is 57th among players of all heights in defensive rebounding percentage (24.6%).
Walker earns recognition from the conference after a breakout season in his first year as a Bobcat. The sophomore big man ranks tenth in the Big Sky in scoring (13.7 ppg) and third in field goal percentage (55.6%). Walker scored a career-high 26 points in a Power Five win over California in Berkeley on November 16, 2023, and has had 21 games in double-figure scoring this season.
Walker is 49th in NCAA Division I in field goal percentage.
Montana State opens up Big Sky Championships action in Boise, Idaho, on Monday, March 11, at 5:30 p.m. MT.
The fifth-seeded Bobcats will face fourth-seeded Weber State in a quarterfinal matchup at Idaho Central Arena. Montana State defeated the Wildcats in the regular season finale on Monday in Bozeman, 76-64.
Tickets for the tournament can be found here.
2023-24 Big Sky Men's Basketball Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player – Dillon Jones, Weber State
Newcomer of the Year – Saint Thomas, Northern Colorado
Defensive Player of the Year – Robert Ford III, Montana State
Top Reserve – Dejour Reaves, Northern Colorado *
Freshman of the Year – LeJuan Watts, Eastern Washington *
Co-Coach of the Year – David Riley, Eastern Washington & Steve Smiley, Northern Colorado
* Unanimous Selections
First Team All-Conference
Dillon Jones, Weber State *
Cedric Coward, Eastern Washington *
Aanen Moody, Montana *
Saint Thomas, Northern Colorado *
Robert Ford III, Montana State
Brayden Parker, Idaho State
Trenton McLaughlin, Northern Arizona
* Unanimous Members of the All-Big Sky First Team
Second Team All-Conference
KJ Allen, Portland State
Ethan Price, Eastern Washington
Dischon Thomas, Montana
Casey Jones, Eastern Washington
Carson Basham, Northern Arizona
Dejour Reaves, Northern Colorado
Honorable Mention All-Big Sky
Steven Verplancken, Weber State
Maleek Arington, Idaho State
Brandon Whitney, Montana
Brandon Walker, Montana State
Jaron Rillie, Northern Colorado
Zee Hamoda, Sacramento State
Note: Honorable Mention features Six Players due to tie for final spot
All-Defensive Team
Robert Ford III, Montana State *
Maleek Arington, Idaho State *
Carson Basham, Northern Arizona
Casey Jones, Eastern Washington
Julius Mims, Idaho
Alex Tew, Weber State
* Unanimous Members of All-Defensive Team
Note: Team features Six Players due to tie for final spot
#GoCatsGo
