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Farmer pursues college hoop dreams
MALDEN, Mo. - Quamareous Farmer approached his senior basketball season filled with nerves.
After battling an ankle injury his junior year, he was unsure how he would be able to come back and perform. He was unsure if he would be able to play at all.
He said the support of his family and coach pushed him to have the best basketball season of his life.
“This season was fantastic,” Farmer said. “It was the best record year we had in a couple of years. It was just really fun.”
According to MSHSAA record history, which starts in 2008, this is the best overall record in Malden’s recent history.
The Malden Green Wave finished their season 21-6 behind Farmer’s senior leadership. He averaged 16 points per game along with five rebounds, three assists and two steals per game.
Farmer’s stats helped him receive many honors throughout his final season such as the Clarkton All-Tournament Team, Bloomfield All-Tournament Team and Bootheel All-Conference. He was also First Team All-District for MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 after helping the Green Wave get second place at the District Championships. Along with those accolades, he surpassed the 1,000 career points milestone in his senior season.
After battling his injury and rejoining his teammates on the court for his senior year, Farmer was happy to be himself again
“It was devastating,” Farmer said. “I had to just go watch basketball instead of being able to do anything. My family took care of me though and put it in my head that everything will be okay and it don’t rain forever. Everything will get better eventually.”
Farmer said his coach helped push him to keep working hard along with his family. However, his biggest motivation was his little brother.
Farmer’s youngest brother was diagnosed with cancer at 5 years old.
“I’m a big brother and I needed to be with him regardless of everything else,” Farmer said. “We have a pretty close relationship. Whenever he asks me to do stuff for him, I am there. I just enjoy being around him.”
Now at eight years old, Farmer’s brother is cancer free. His fight taught Farmer how to fight and keep pushing for his dreams despite adversity.
Farmer has committed to play basketball collegiately at Missouri State University-West Plains.
Malden’s head boys basketball coach Mike Kilgore said Farmer’s training has prepared him to play at the next level.
“Q is getting ready to play at the highest level of junior college basketball,” Kilgore said. “Each workout that I put him through was to give him an opportunity to become a collegiate basketball player.”
Farmer places a lot of the success from his senior season behind Kilgore’s coaching.
According to Kilgore, this summer is a good opportunity for Farmer to get adjusted to becoming a collegiate athlete. Especially now, he no longer has to prepare for football or track while being a three sport athlete at Malden. His main focus can be solely on the sport he loves the most.
“He will have the opportunity to focus on basketball all year long,” Kilgore said. “Which will only improve what he is already good at and what he’s been taught over the last three years.”
Farmer said when he visited Missouri State West Plains, it instantly felt like home.
He said the coaching staff made sure he felt welcomed and the school held a special place in his heart when he arrived on campus.
Now, he is hoping to simply work hard and find a fit on the team’s roster as a freshman. According to Kilgore, working out in the summer is the best way to acclimate.
“It’s a different level, different pace and different environment than high school,” Kilgore said. “But it will be an on and off court experience that he’ll remember for the rest of his life.”