Farmer Has Short List

6’1 floor leader Jordan Farmer says he has his favorites for college down to a manageable list: Gonzaga, Stanford, Florida, USC, Kansas, UConn, and a seventh team that he didn’t mention. For now, though, he’s just worried about winning a L.A city championship. Farmer (Taft, Woodland Hills) found himself in an unfamiliar position at the end of his quarterfinal L.A city playoff game: on the bench. He fouled out of the game with the team up seven and 5:18 remaining against favored powerhouse Crenshaw High. “I was shocked. I just couldn’t believe it,” Farmer said after the game of the highly questionable offensive foul call that knocked him out.

Luckily for him, his team hung on to win without him, 92-91. Farmer is a junior considered by Rivals.com to be the #1 point guard on the West Coast. He has been noticed by the top programs in the country for his remarkable speed, outside shooting, court vision, and especially his leadership ability. Farmer appears to have no leader for schools, but is highly willing to look at teams across the country. Academics will also weigh heavily on the decision as he is an excellent student.

“I’m definitely thinking of UConn. They’ve been sending me a lot of stuff.” They’re certainly not the only ones. Sources say that Mark Few and his entire Gonzaga team met Marcus and came to watch him play while in L.A. On the floor, you can see why so many teams would want him as their general. He constantly was helping his teammates understand where to be on the court, what to pass to make, and when to pick up their intensity. He has a high basketball IQ, and didn’t force shots outside of the team’s system. When he needed to create space for a shot, he could. Despite the foul trouble, he ignited a run at the beginning of the second half with 11 third quarter points, including three straight three pointers. The Taft team had trailed by as much as 46-30 but Farmer and senior Steve Smith never got down on themselves. Supporters of the team say it was the first time all year that Jordan had foul problems It effected his playing time but not his effort. He finished the game with 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists despite being able to play only 20 minutes.

Rivals.com #3 ranked athlete in the country senior Steve Smith is Farmer’s backcourt-mate, and together they are devastating. Smith led the way for Taft with 28 points while freshman Matt Cook scored 24, including two late free throws to ice the game. Smith is the third-ranked wide receiver in the country by Rivals.com and will play football at nearby USC next year. Smith showed an amazing ability to put his head down on the court and weave through the opposition as if he was on a football field.

The biggest problem UConn might have in recruiting Farmer is whether he would fit on their squad in 2004. “Well, they got Marcus Williams from Oak Hill Academy at my position and he’s only one year older than me…. so I have to see, it’s all about if I could fit in.” Farmer said.

Farmer does have the outside shot and penetration skills necessary to play either guard position in college, and is excellent at drawing contact. He can also fly. Smith and Farmer have a play that they ran 3 straight games this season where Smith throws the ball of the backboard, Farmer catches the ball, cocks it, and dunks. The kid’s only 6’1, by the way. Despite all that, his vocal, cerebral nature scream point guard so his question about Marcus Williams is warranted.

Farmer will plan his visits after the season, and Kansas, Florida, and UConn are all heard to be schools he’d like to see officially. For now, though, he wants to continue Taft’s great run in the playoffs. It doesn’t get any easier this weekend as his Taft team runs into nationally ranked (#13) Westchester High in the semifinals. Westchester is led by UCLA bound forward Trevor Ariza.