FARMINGTON — Farmington boys basketball coach Beau Thompson has no trust issues when it comes to point guard Jason Purdy.
In fact, Thompson has complete faith in the 6-foot senior to push the ball upcourt and run Farmington’s fast-paced offense, which naturally relies on solid guard play.
Any concerns Thompson might’ve had about Purdy were answered last season, when as a junior, the point guard was named the All-Northwest Arkansas Small Schools Boys Basketball Newcomer of the Year.
“People really don’t realize how big, strong and fast he is. He’s a (6-foot) point guard that jumps well and is as fast as anybody with the basketball,” Thompson said of Purdy. “I trust him more than any player I’ve ever had with the ball in his hands.”
Purdy is one of the only sure things for the Cardinals, who must replace four starters from last year’s team that finished 30-4 and lost 60-57 to eventual champions Jonesboro Westside in the semifinals of the Class 4A State Tournament.
While Farmington is a team in transition, Thompson heads into the season with an all-senior starting lineup, which could help make the adjustment easier on everyone.
Guard Gavin Osnes, who started as a sophomore at Berryville before transferring last year to Farmington, has the ability to rebound and run the fast break with Purdy.
Meanwhile, forward Jared Turner is expected to provide the Cardinals with a presence in the paint to go along with what’s essentially a four-guard lineup. The 6-foot-3 senior, however, can extend the floor by draining outside shots.
“We know what we have. I really like this group. This group’s advantage is their versatility,” Thompson said. “We’ll start five kids that (are) all within (three) inches of each other. They’re all between 6-foot and 6-3, and they all can really shoot the basketball.”
Change is also going on with Farmington’s girls team.
Lady Cardinals coach Brad Johnson is adjusting to life without Hanna Qedan, who had the ability to take over a game while averaging 19 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks as a senior last season.
With Qedan now a freshman guard at Arkansas State and Sara Shackleford also gone, Johnson said Farmington must get more balanced scoring this season.
Still, Farmington — which returns seven of its top 10 players from last season — will continue to run a motion offense that tries to beat teams with transition points.
“Last year we ran a lot of stuff to get Hanna the basketball, and this year it’s just going to be a lot more dispersed,” Johnson said. “Our motion offense will be a lot more team-oriented. We’re going to share the basketball a lot more.”