Forward CJ Felder (1) averaged 9.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and started 35 of 50 games in two seasons at Boston College. [Photo courtesy of BC communications]
Harry Fodder: How CJ Felder Fits In
Monday, April 19, 2021 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — They lost one of the best rebounding guards in the Southeastern Conference to the NBA Draft. They're 6-foot-11 post man is in the underclassmen draft process. Three backups who averaged three rebounds each are gone.
The Florida Gators, in this offseason of attrition and transition, needed some physicality and punch on the inside and CJ Felder, the 6-foot-7, 230-pound transfer from Boston College, figures to provide some.
Felder, out of Sumter, S.C., averaged 9.7 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Golden Eagles during his 2020-21 sophomore season. His 27.9 minutes per game ranked third on team that finished last in the Atlantic Coast Conference and went just 4-15 overall and 2-11 in league play. Felder shot 45.9 percent from the floor, just over 31 percent from long distance and just shy of 62 percent at the free-throw line. He was second in the ACC in blocked shots at 2.2 per game.
In this era of position-less basketball, there's no need to label Felder at a particular spot. He'll play the "4" spot, where he'll provide rebounds and use his long arms to defend both guards at forwards. With his size, length and physicality, Felder also will be something of an offensive mismatch for opponents when playing the "3" because he has the ability to face up defenders and drive the ball.
In two 2021 games against Miami, CJ Felder (1) totaled 11 blocked shots.
This is an energy type player who has basically started his entire collegiate career and, as an incoming junior, will have three years of eligibility remaining, counting the COVID-19 freebee.
Felder scored 24 points against Duke, had a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds against Wake Forest. and came either a point or board shy of dub-dubs against Minnesota and Syracuse. He blocked 11 shots in two games against Miami. and another four against an outstanding Villanova team. Some might recall he had 11 points when the Gators beat up on the Eagles 90-70 back on Dec. 3 when they two squared off in second game of the season at "Bubbleville."
HIs shooting percentage from deep is not great, but the Gators aren't bringing Felder here to shoot 3s. He had the third-most 3-point attempts for BC last season, so that facet was part of his role. Felder, though, made 59 percent of his shots inside the arc, which is more likely where he'll be found in a UF uniform. His free-throw percentage, if he's going to do work in the paint, does need to get better.
Finally, and as we break down each of these new transfers, one statistic is going to stand out: Experience. He has 50 games and 35 starts at an ACC school under his belt. And he'll be the least experienced of UF's four (the number, for now) incoming transfers.
