As we get closer to the high school season, there is no better time to look at underrated players within the state. Most of these cases typically come from guys who live outside of the three major cities (Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro) and/or have stayed loyal to their original high school programs. However, in an attempt to get ahead of college coaches looking for unsigned talent in the later summer months, we will identify players they should know about over the coming months. We’ve look at multiple college-worthy players thus far, but it feels like Stephano Farrington is someone who should see a drastic uptick in his recruitment sooner than later. Let’s take a closer look…
For those who haven’t seen him play, Farrington is an extremely long, fluid athlete with nice size, a high motor, and the ability to reliably anchor the paint as an excellent rim-protector. At 6-foot-8, he’s able to consistently block or alter shots around the basket. Not only does he play hard, but Farrington’s understanding of angles and timing allow him to be a very destructive interior defender. He’s very explosive around the basket and will gladly meet opponents at or above the rim. Farrington is comfortable switching onto smaller opponents and utilizing his length to make life difficult. He competes well for rebounds and knows how to run the floor properly in transition. Farrington offers a simple offensive game featuring finishes (both above and below the rim), drop-offs, and the occasional perimeter jumper, but he doesn’t force the action.
That being said, it’s actually somewhat surprising that his recruitment hasn’t already taken a step forward. Farrington is a low-maintenance piece who protects the rim, scores as needed, and generally thrives within his role. He’s the type of guy who will only continue to trend upward as he adds strength, as his foundational appeal should be obvious to scholarship-level programs.