Farr out: Olney CC forward signs with Murray State’s Class of 2021
Murray State men’s basketball received its third commitment and signee for the Class of 2021 on Wednesday, in Olney Central sophomore forward Elijah Farr.
The 6-foot-8, 240-pound native of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, helped power the Blue Knights to a 14-7 finish in 2020-21 — averaging 16.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 20 games, while shooting 48% from the floor, 38.2% from the arc and 77.2% from the stripe.
He hit a 3-pointer in every game he attempted one (19), and scored 20-plus points eight times this past season, including a season-best 27 points in a 76-63 loss at Vincennes University on March 6.
On April 9, Farr — who has three years of eligibility remaining — was named the Region 24 Co-POY and All-Conference in the GRAC (Great Rivers Athletic Conference). It’s a strong junior college circuit that which includes John A. Logan, Olney CC, Kaskaskia, Wabash Valley, Rend Lake, Southwestern Illinois, Lincoln Trail, Shawnee, Lake Land and Southeastern Illinois.
During his 2019-20 freshman campaign, Farr averaged 10.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 31 games, shooting 51% from the floor, 38.9% from the arc and 66.2% from the stripe. Twice he scored 20-plus points, including a season-best 24 points in 22 minutes on 7-for-7 shooting from the field and 7-for-8 shooting from the stripe in an 88-71 win against Lewis & Clark on Feb. 15, 2020.
One of only two players in program history to be a four-year starter at center for Lee’s Summit North High School boys basketball, Farr was a two-sport star who averaged more than 23 yards per catch in 2017. He originally committed, signed and suited up for the Missouri State Bears football program in 2018 to play tight end, but unlike former NFL TE stars Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates — who left basketball for football — Farr opted to take a junior college route back to basketball.
This past March was a busy, busy time for Farr and his family, as the stretch-four received offers from not only Murray State, but Tennessee State, Jacksonville University, Coastal Carolina, UMass and Oakland, before he chose the Racers.
Farr joins a 2021 Racer recruiting class that already has Davidson graduate transfer guard Carter Collins and South Carolina transfer guard Trae Hannibal in tow, in what’s looking like an intrepid rebuild of defensive principles and an even further-stretched floor on offense.
Seventh-year MSU coach Matt McMahon and his staff now have two scholarships remaining for the upcoming season, with several big targets in the scope.
“We are very excited to welcome Elijah Farr to Murray State,” said McMahon, in a release. “At 6-8, 240 pounds, we love his skill level and versatility at the forward position. Elijah had a terrific season in earning Region Player of the Year honors, and we look forward to his arrival on campus this summer.”
for those who inquired. 