Gators forward CJ Felder during a workout this summer after transferring from Boston College.
Felder Finds a New Family
Wednesday, October 6, 2021 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — During the last two seasons at Boston College, CJ Felder and the Eagles lost more than twice as many games as they won. But that's not the reason Felder is now wearing a Florida uniform. Not at all.
In fact, "The coaches and players there, they were people I would choose to be with even without basketball," Felder said after a UF practice this week. "They were a family to me." CJ Felder
The family, though, started breaking late in the 2020-21 season. Last Feb. 15, deep into his seventh season, BC coach coach Jim Christian was fired, prompting members of the Eagles family to commence scattering across the country. They may not have been household names — Wynston Tabbs (off to East Carolina), Jay Heath (Arizona State), Rich Kelly (Quinnipac), Kamari Williams (Miami-Ohio), James Karnik (Lehigh), Makai Aston-Langford (Providence), Steffon Mitchell (turned pro) — but they were Felder's brothers.
Now, he's found some new siblings.
"CJ is a great guy," Florida guard and fellow transfer Phlandrous Fleming Jr. said. "We all got here at the same time and we've just kind of clicked together from the start. I think he's growing as a person and a player. We all get along great. We hang out. I think he's got a family here now."
And Florida, in the 6-foot-7, 231-pound has a forward with 50 games of experience in the Atlantic Coast Conference, including 35 starts. On a UF roster that is short on size, the Gators are going to ask (if not require) Felder to provide them with some bruising, banging and big-time minutes in the front court, a role that would have belonged to the 6-10 Omar Payne had he not opted to transfer to Illinois for his junior season.
What Felder gives away in height to Payne he'll make up for with a combination of physicality and athleticism that makes him the most versatile defender on a team. That's saying something, considering Coach Mike White believes this Gators bunch has a chance to be his best UF team on that end of the floor. Felder is a bit raw on the pure skills front, but he's wired, both mentally and physically, to defend not just his position (be it the "3," "4" or "5"), but all five positions on the floor. Yes, including the point.
An example. At a practice this week, the Gators were working on ball-screen defense and switches. During one sequence, fifth-year guard Brandon McKissic came off a screen and found himself matched one-on-one against Felder, who instantly unfolded his 6-10 wingspan and swarmed into McKissic's space and refusing give an inch. Ditto McKissic. The mini-game within the game drew hoots and hollers throughout the gym as the two went after each other.
Erik Pastrana turned to fellow assistant coach Al Pinkins and said, "I could watch this [stuff] all day."
Forward CJ Felder (1) averaged 7.2 points and 4.7 rebounds, including 13 double-figure scoring games and three double-figure rebounding games, over his two seasons and 50 games at Boston College.
At BC, on a team that went just 4-16 last season (including 2-11 in the ACC), Felder averaged 9.7 points on nearly 46 percent from the floor (just 31.4 from 3) and 5.9 rebounds over 27.8 minutes, with his 2.4 blocks per game second among conference leaders in league play.
The Gators have 6-11 Colin Castleton, a second-team All-SEC selection last season, at the "5." Castleton is backed up by 6-11, 290-pound junior Jason Jitoboh, a seldom-seen reserve during his first few seasons who figures to make a sizable jump from his 44 total minutes last season. Felder is competing with returning forward Anthony Duruji at the "4" position, as well as several others for turns at the "3." His ability to guard multiple spots means the team has options, especially when it goes to a "small ball" lineup, where Felder would slide to the "5."
Sounds like a pretty wide-open window of opportunity, but the UF coaches don't get particularly complicated when talking about Felder's anticipated role.
"Here's what we need from CJ," Pinkins said. "We need him to be an elite defender, an elite rebounder, an elite shot-blocker — and continue to be those things because that's who he is. If we can get that from him early that will help his offensive game. If he can do those things, he'll get into a flow and shoot it better and allow him to attack [from the perimeter] when people close out on him [on offense]."
A good start, of course, would be good for everyone, but it would especially be beneficial to Felder, a soft-spoken South Carolina kid, who admits to bouts with his confidence.
"Oftentimes, my own head can get in the way," he said. "Sometimes, I'm overthinking and things can go too fast for me."
And that's why the Gators just want him to focus on what he does best — sometimes knowing who you are (and aren't) can make all the difference — and just let his basketball instincts take over. They're good instincts, also. Good enough to have had the likes of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Arkansas among suitors once Felder's name hit the transfer portal.
This is a guy who went for 24 points and six rebounds against Duke last season, plus 10 points, eight rebounds and five blocks against Miami. There's some stat-stuffing potential there when Felder is focused.
"I don't really want to talk about lineups right now, but if he was coming off the bench and giving us great minutes as a rebounder and defender, well, that's what we've been lacking the last couple years," Pinkins said. "When's the last time we had had a guy we could call on with a dog mentality who wasn't worried about scoring, but focused on rebounding and defending and doing his job? We've missed that the last couple years."
Hmmm. Good question. When was the last time?
Kevarrius Hayes, perhaps? Or dare we say … Will Yeguete?
"On the ball, he's a crazy good defender," Fleming said. "He has some little things to learn off the ball, but on the ball he can guard anybody '1' through '5.' Anybody."
Doing so would go a long ways toward leading Felder to places he's never been before. Like a winning season. And a postseason.
"I want to make the NCAA Tournament. That's a formality around here, I know, but for me it's something I've never experienced," Felder said. "That's a personal goal for me, but team-wise we have some high expectations."
Last Dec. 3, Florida smashed Boston College 90-70 in the second game of the season during the "Bubbleville" basketball extravaganza at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut that basically tipped off the '20-21 season. Felder finished with 11 points and one rebound. His UF counterpart, Keyontae Johnson, went for 24 and 12.
Nine days later, Felder was locked in on his coach during a pregame talk minutes before BC took the floor against Syracuse.
"He told us to never take this game for granted and then told us about 'this kid from Florida … ," and I was like, 'Oh my gosh!' Then when I saw the video later that night you knew how serious it was; life and death," Felder said. "A couple months later, it was so surreal. I'm here with Keyontae and talking to him. And he's a great guy."
"On the ball, he's a crazy good defender," Fleming said. "He has some little things to learn off the ball, but on the ball he can guard anybody '1' through '5.' Anybody." 
