This Augusta-area basketball star overcame heart surgery to lead his team to the playoffs
Imagine fighting something that cannot be felt or seen.
That was Taj Ford’s reality just a year ago.
What was supposed to be a routine physical in October of 2022 turned into both a nightmare and a blessing for the star Evans basketball player.
During his check-up, the doctor heard a murmur (an irregularity) in his heart and called for more tests. A CT scan and an ultrasound later, the diagnosis came back: Ascending Aortic Aneurysm. His aorta, the main valve in the heart, had bulged and began putting pressure on other areas around his heart.
The scary part about the diagnosis is that without surgery, it could have ruptured at any time and the results would have likely been fatal. He had no pain and was working out on the basketball court as normal up until the physical.
“It was during tryouts, and we were probably going harder last year than we had gone in 17 years, to tell you the truth,” Evans coach Kevin Musick said. “He never did feel anything, so it wasn’t like he was feeling bad or any of that. Something just didn’t sound right and they caught it.”
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The alternative is every coach and parent’s worst nightmare. At first, he was told he’d have to sit out just a week or so while the medical professionals weighed his options.
Ford’s mother pulled him out of class one day to give the news.
“She called me out of class and said what they found, I’d have to sit out. I made her cry because I started crying. I can’t believe they’ve taken away what I’ve played for years,” he said. “It scared me when they told me it could’ve happened yesterday, and nobody would have known. I was just playing, and it could’ve happened during tryouts.”
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After much discussion, the doctor ultimately decided heart surgery was the proper next step. Ford made it through the procedure and the total recovery process took about six or seven months — in other words, his entire junior basketball season. He made it back to watch his teammates in the state playoffs a year ago, but it still wasn’t the same as being on the court.
“It was really crazy because we were in and out of the doctor until about this time, when we stopped playing in the state playoffs,” he said. “I came back after the first round of the playoffs to watch the games. It was hard sitting out, watching the games because I knew I’d be able to help my team out.”
Ford entered his senior season with a rejuvenated level of competitiveness and the results speak for themselves.
“God bless that they caught it,” Musick said. “Went through heart surgery and came out as one of our top guys this year.”
Taj Ford’s return to the Evans basketball court
As tryouts rolled around in October, Ford had a clean bill of health and returned to the game he loves. He also returned to a team that had lofty state playoff expectations. Still, it was important for Musick and his staff to make sure he didn’t try to get his entire junior year back in the first week.
“It was just fun to be back and leading this group as a senior,” Ford said. “Coach Musick was a big help, like he was always in here making sure I wasn’t doing anything because the doctor said I couldn’t play. I couldn’t even do the shootaround or anything. This year has been fun.”
Ford was one of the area’s most productive players this season, leading the Knights in scoring with nearly 20 points per game. He and senior Bryce Wallace made for one of the tougher backcourts in Class 6A, leading Evans to wins over teams like Harlem, Greenbrier, Lakeside, Brunswick and Groves.
With Ford and Wallace at the helm, the Knights finished runner-up in Region 2-AAAAAA and made it to the Georgia High School Association Sweet 16 before falling to Riverwood Saturday. For Musick, Ford’s return did as much for the morale of the team as it did for the skill level on the court.
“He had 26 points the other night in the first round of the state playoffs. Him and Bryce have worked great as a tandem and play the most unselfish basketball for two guys to play. Their attitude, personality, probably one of the best teams I’ve coached here in 18 years. They all get along, they run the system, they don’t stray away and try to play one-on-one basketball; that’s definitely what got them to the Sweet 16.”
Saturday may have been Ford’s last high school basketball game, but the senior still has his sights set on the hardwood. He’s planning on playing at the college level.
“Any way I can play,” he said, “I’ll just be happy to be on the court.”
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Evans basketball's Taj Ford overcomes heart surgery, shines on court
