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<p>These five freshmen stood out this past weekend in Aurora for their ability to read the floor, make smart decisions, and consistently put their teammates in positions to succeed. For players who haven't yet played in a high school game, their feel for the game was impossible to ignore. For more coverage, see <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/08/top-5-freshman-downhill-scorers/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prephoops.com/2026/08/top-5-freshman-downhill-scorers/">Top 5 Freshman Downhill Scorers</a> </strong>and <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/08/best-two-way-players-at-freshman-showcase/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prephoops.com/2026/08/best-two-way-players-at-freshman-showcase/">Best Freshman Two-Way Prospects</a>.</strong><br></p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Farley looked every bit the floor general, constantly communicating and bringing a calm presence to the point guard position. Undersized or not, he stayed composed under pressure, generating offense from three and showcasing crafty finishes around the basket. Most importantly, Farley showed an understanding of how to maximize his teammates' potential. At one point, one of his teammates' size wasn't being used efficiently. Farley not only noticed this, but repeatedly set up the pick and roll to generate offense through him in the plays to come. His skills as a distributor and ability to make the players around him better will take Farley far.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Khan is the type of player who makes an offense better without needing to be the center of attention. He is a consummate team player who does all the little things that a coach will love. Khan shot consistently from beyond the arc and with coaching at the next level, I could see him becoming an assist machine. There's also plenty of room for Khan to bulk up his frame. Not sure yet whether he's a combo guard or 3 and D prospect, but with his team-first mentality and impressive facilitation skills, there's no doubt that Khan will help his Hersey team to thrive.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">It's hard not to be a fan of Pharthong's game. He plays with such confident handles and an attacking mindset, consistently using his skills to get downhill and put pressure on the defense. Pharthong scored at all three levels – including from deep – and was equally as effective creating for others as creating for himself.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Strong Jr. brought an impressive offensive package to the floor, combining high-level decision-making and playmaking. He processed the game quickly and consistently seemed to understand where the ball needed to go and when. A tough cover in one-on-one situations, Strong Jr. could change speeds in an instant, knock down shots both from midrange and deep, and create opportunities for those around him. With his blend of shot-making, shiftiness, and distribution skills, Strong Jr. is definitely a player to watch.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Okay, so the last player on this list isn't quite a freshman yet… but this eighth grader looked the part of an emerging guard who can make a difference. New on the scene after a move from Albuquerque, New Mexico, one of Steen's most impressive traits was his willingness to share the basketball, regularly prioritizing the right play instead of forcing up shots of his own. Steen showcased nifty handles for his age, combined with the ability to finish strong with either hand. There's a natural playmaking ability, maturity, and unselfishness to his game that makes him easy to root for.</p>
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These five freshmen stood out this past weekend in Aurora for their ability to read the floor, make smart decisions, and consistently put their teammates in positions to succeed. For players who haven't yet played in a high school game, their feel for the game was impossible to ignore. For more coverage, see Top 5 Freshman Downhill Scorersand Best Freshman Two-Way Prospects.
Farley looked every bit the floor general, constantly communicating and bringing a calm presence to the point guard position. Undersized or not, he stayed composed under pressure, generating offense from three and showcasing crafty finishes around the basket. Most importantly, Farley showed an understanding of how to maximize his teammates' potential. At one point, one of his teammates' size wasn't being used efficiently. Farley not only noticed this, but repeatedly set up the pick and roll to generate offense through him in the plays to come. His skills as a distributor and ability to make the players around him better will take Farley far.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Khan is the type of player who makes an offense better without needing to be the center of attention. He is a consummate team player who does all the little things that a coach will love. Khan shot consistently from…
It's hard not to be a fan of Pharthong's game. He plays with such confident handles and an attacking mindset, consistently using his skills to get downhill and put pressure on the defense. Pharthong scored at all three levels – including from deep – and was equally as effective creating for others as creating for himself.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Strong Jr. brought an impressive offensive package to the floor, combining high-level decision-making and playmaking. He processed the game quickly and consistently seemed to understand where the ball needed to go and when. A tough cover in one-on-one situations, Strong Jr. could change speeds in an instant, knock down shots both from midrange and deep, and create opportunities for those around him. With his blend of shot-making, shiftiness, and distribution skills, Strong Jr. is definitely a player to watch.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
Okay, so the last player on this list isn't quite a freshman yet… but this eighth grader looked the part of an emerging guard who can make a difference. New on the scene after a move from Albuquerque, New Mexico, one of Steen's most impressive traits was his willingness to share the basketball, regularly prioritizing the right play instead of forcing up shots of his own. Steen showcased nifty handles for his age, combined with the ability to finish strong with either hand. There's a natural playmaking ability, maturity, and unselfishness to his game that makes him easy to root for.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
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