Faith’s transfer to Cardinal Mooney will be one of the more intriguing moves to follow this season. After serving as the focal point for Venice a year ago, she’ll join a Cardinal Mooney program under new leadership that appears poised to make a serious run at a state championship based on its early roster makeup. While her role may look different than it did previously, she’ll be surrounded by talented players with college aspirations, similar to the environment she’s experienced this spring on the EYBL circuit. Those adjustments can be valuable for long-term development, as learning to impact winning alongside other high-level talent is an important part of preparing for the next level. Every college player was once the standout in their area, and finding ways to thrive within a talented roster is a skill of its own. I’ll be eager to see how Faith fits into the new-look Cardinal Mooney squad when they take the floor in Gainesville at the FABC Scholastic Live Period this month.

Faith debuts at No. 15 after consistently showing the traits of a true floor general. She plays with a high motor, pushes the pace in transition, and sees the floor well as a passer. Faith is a three-level scorer who can create off the bounce, finish through contact, and knock down shots from deep with confidence. Her handle, poise, and control of the offense stand out, as does her ability to deliver in big moments. With her scoring versatility and steady leadership, Faith continues to establish herself as a reliable and impactful guard in the 2029 class.

Faith played like a true floor general with a strong motor and constant hustle on both ends. She consistently pushed the pace in transition and passed it well with her impressive court vision. Off the bounce, she did a nice job getting to the rim with good handles and finished through contact by converting multiple And-1 opportunities. Faith also proved to be a three level scorer with a reliable jumper and the ability to knock down the three. She played with poise and control of the offense and capped her performance by hitting clutch free throws down the stretch in a 23 point performance in the win.

Faith impressed me with the depth of her bag when getting to the basket with a nasty step through move. She finished so well with her left hand even with tight defense from her opponent. Her game is smooth and she has the ability to consistently down down the three ball. Faith pushed the ball with control in transition and handled the ball well which allowed her to get to the bucket and finish on some tough And 1’s.

Faith Palao was very impressive at the Gator for a Day Camp, showcasing a very diverse offensive game. She was deadly from the perimeter and could shoot it off the dribble or catch as well. Palao was impresive in regular offensive sets or in transition. The phrase “shoot with faith” isn’t just a play on her name, but also a reflection of her game. Her confidence on the floor was undeniable, as she mixed up threes, mid-ranges , and floaters in the teeth of the defense.