In his final season, Ford averaged 20.8 points and 5.7 assists a game, and scored a career-high 34 points in his final home game - a victory against Duke University, which clinched another ACC first-place finish for the Tar Heels. At the end of the season, Ford repeated as a consensus first-team All-American and was recognized as the National Player of the Year when he won the USBWA, NABC and Sporting News Player of the Year awards, as well as the John R. Wooden Award