Summer is travel basketball season, but usually the trips aren’t like the one Stagg’s Mo Farhan took in early July.
The rising senior Mo Farhan went all the way to the Middle East, playing for Team Palestine July 7-11 during the FIBA U18 Asia Cup WABA Qualifier in Amman, Jordan.
Palestine went 1-4, beating Jordan and losing to Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.
“It was a great experience,” Farhan said during a break in the Max Strus Basketball Camp at Stagg last week. “When I came back, everyone was like, ‘Man, I saw you playing. … You played well.’ And that was a great feeling.”
“He’s always representing his country and when goes over there, he represents everyone here while he’s there,” Stagg coach Marty Strus said. “It’s cool to have a foot in multiple places and have people cheering you on.”
This opportunity was not something that happened overnight either. It was a process that had setbacks and required perseverance.
“Back in September, October, the coach for Team Palestine, (who) lives in the Chicago area and was recruiting people in the United States … told me he wanted me to play,” Farhan said. “I thought it was a great opportunity, but I thought I wasn’t going to be able to play.”
“He talked about it for a couple years and tried last year, but things happened with travel. Even this year he wasn’t quite sure,” Strus said. “I’m glad he was able to do it. What an awesome experience for him to go and represent a country like that and play really well.”
Farhan averaged 15.6 points, 12 rebounds, 2.5 assists, one steal, and 0.6 blocks per game across five games. His four double-doubles in five games ranked first in the event and he was second in rebounds with 60.
His best game came in a loss to Iran in which he finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds, an assist, a steal and two blocks.
Team Palestine’s roster consisted of players from not just the Chicago area, but places like North Carolina and Minnesota. Farhan even got to play alongside Shepard rising junior Omar Yousef.
“I loved being with my teammates,” Farhan said. “I had not met those guys before and I feel very close to them now.”
The team got familiar with one another through some workouts before the tourney. Farhan said this benefited chemistry, but it was his instincts that got him comfortable.
“It was weird, but we had a lot of practice,” Farhan said, “They’re very physical and you have no time so you can’t take plays off.”
The prep basketball season is still a bit away, but Farhan is motivated coming off his international experience. He is excited for what is possible and is ready to take on more roles with full support of his coach.
“I have to step up as a leader,” Farhan said. “And I really think we can be good. We just need to dig in and work hard.
“He’s a hard worker,” Strus said. “He plays really hard, competes, and I can’t wait to see what’s going to do as a senior.”