Photo by: Ben Solomon
2019-20 Preview Series: The Process Begins Now for Felder
October 30, 2019 | Men's Basketball, #ForBoston Files
BC might have itself a potential diamond gem in the Sumter, S.C. native
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Boston College men's basketball celebrated NBA opening week on Twitter and Instagram, honoring veteran standouts Reggie Jackson and Jared Dudley, as well as a pair of recent grads - Jerome Robinson and Ky Bowman.
Robinson and Bowman were the products of head coach Jim Christian's proven process of recruitment and player development. Their on-court embrace following the Clippers and Warriors matchup on Oct. 24 was the manifestation of that process. The two North Carolina kids came to the Heights. combined their respective talents and work ethics with the program that Christian put forth for them, and are now playing at the highest level.
The process continues in 2019-20, this time with a South Carolina big man that hopes his talents and diligence can mesh with his hopes and dreams. CJ Felder is one of the most tantalizing prospects in recent Boston College history.
"He's just so physically gifted," Christian said. "He's one of the most physically gifted guys that I've ever been around. He's a competitor, he's athletic, he's tough and he's skilled."
Felder has all the tools a player could want on the court. He is blessed with good size at six feet, seven inches, with a warrior's strength and speed. He can battle on the glass for rebounds but has the agility and quickness to play outside as a small forward. He's not a prototypical big man - he can score on the perimeter and well as in the post - creating a rare combination of tantalizing gifts. And he's not yet hit his 18th birthday.
He burst onto the national scene at Sumter H.S. in Sumter, S.C. when his well-rounded skill set began to develop. Once one of the state's best-kept secrets, he averaged 9.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game as a junior, while shooting 78% from the floor. It earned him USA Today/American Family Insurance All-State and put him on the radar of the S.C. Basketball Coaches Association preseason Elite Boys list prior to his senior year.
That all but ended his hidden gem status and he started drawing his fair attention of national recruiters by the time he started his senior season. He exploded out of the gate with 13.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game in his first nine games, further establishing himself defensively with 5.0 blocks per game. He was on an exploding trajectory, but it all stopped in mid-December when he suffered an shoulder injury.
The injury was a disappointment only because it kept him off the court; it did nothing to dissuade the recruiters who still dreamed of his potential. He was the No. 45 power forward recruit in the nation and No. 4 overall in the state of South Carolina, and recruiting bureaus continued to fawn over his ceiling, handing him a high three-star rating. He continued to draw interest from power programs across the basketball landscape, including other ACC schools, but in October, 2018, he ultimately chose Boston College.
"When I wasn't able to play, I was challenged into thinking about what I really wanted to do," Felder said. "Being out of the game made me ask myself what I wanted from my future, and I decided that basketball is really what I want. This is what I am. That's what I pushed through, and when I got here to BC over the summer, I was still recovering. So that injury made me better by making me work off the court."
He became a student of the game, and it forever changed his perspective. He enters this season committed to his development as a more complete player, understanding that the ACC is full of physically-gifted athletes. He continued to develop his love of the game, and he enters the season more in tune with how his role could and will develop as long as he continues integrating into the speed-based transition game at BC.
"The more we went and saw him, the more we watched parts of his game, the more we were amazed at the things that came easy for him," Christian said. "He's an explosive kid. He's more skilled that I thought. He works hard and he's learning everything."
Felder's self-awareness only helps to develop his basketball IQ. He's mature enough to know that he needs the refinement from his coaching staff, something he developed while he was injured. When he couldn't play, he fostered his love of the game by poring over film while devoting himself to recovery.
"I definitely love running the lanes," Felder said of his new system. "It's a new concept to me. In high school, they try to teach you how to run lanes, but you really just run wild. In college, you have to be able to run that lane as part of a system. This is a game that's bigger, better and faster. There's more 3-point shooting and better players. So I know I'm going to have to learn to adjust and (develop into) playing against them."
The ACC has always been a home for the elite basketball player, and it's always been an attraction for complete athletes. It's the proving ground for everyone who always dominated but wanted the next challenge, and every program can boast success stories as part of its lineage.
Beyond that, though, the ability to continually foster environments for development are where players are drawn and where teams are built to succeed. Boston College is known for its ability to churn out polished diamonds after smoothing out rough cuts. This year, the process continues as it begins for CJ Felder.
Robinson and Bowman were the products of head coach Jim Christian's proven process of recruitment and player development. Their on-court embrace following the Clippers and Warriors matchup on Oct. 24 was the manifestation of that process. The two North Carolina kids came to the Heights. combined their respective talents and work ethics with the program that Christian put forth for them, and are now playing at the highest level.
The process continues in 2019-20, this time with a South Carolina big man that hopes his talents and diligence can mesh with his hopes and dreams. CJ Felder is one of the most tantalizing prospects in recent Boston College history.
"He's just so physically gifted," Christian said. "He's one of the most physically gifted guys that I've ever been around. He's a competitor, he's athletic, he's tough and he's skilled."
Felder has all the tools a player could want on the court. He is blessed with good size at six feet, seven inches, with a warrior's strength and speed. He can battle on the glass for rebounds but has the agility and quickness to play outside as a small forward. He's not a prototypical big man - he can score on the perimeter and well as in the post - creating a rare combination of tantalizing gifts. And he's not yet hit his 18th birthday.
He burst onto the national scene at Sumter H.S. in Sumter, S.C. when his well-rounded skill set began to develop. Once one of the state's best-kept secrets, he averaged 9.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game as a junior, while shooting 78% from the floor. It earned him USA Today/American Family Insurance All-State and put him on the radar of the S.C. Basketball Coaches Association preseason Elite Boys list prior to his senior year.
That all but ended his hidden gem status and he started drawing his fair attention of national recruiters by the time he started his senior season. He exploded out of the gate with 13.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game in his first nine games, further establishing himself defensively with 5.0 blocks per game. He was on an exploding trajectory, but it all stopped in mid-December when he suffered an shoulder injury.
The injury was a disappointment only because it kept him off the court; it did nothing to dissuade the recruiters who still dreamed of his potential. He was the No. 45 power forward recruit in the nation and No. 4 overall in the state of South Carolina, and recruiting bureaus continued to fawn over his ceiling, handing him a high three-star rating. He continued to draw interest from power programs across the basketball landscape, including other ACC schools, but in October, 2018, he ultimately chose Boston College.
"When I wasn't able to play, I was challenged into thinking about what I really wanted to do," Felder said. "Being out of the game made me ask myself what I wanted from my future, and I decided that basketball is really what I want. This is what I am. That's what I pushed through, and when I got here to BC over the summer, I was still recovering. So that injury made me better by making me work off the court."
He became a student of the game, and it forever changed his perspective. He enters this season committed to his development as a more complete player, understanding that the ACC is full of physically-gifted athletes. He continued to develop his love of the game, and he enters the season more in tune with how his role could and will develop as long as he continues integrating into the speed-based transition game at BC.
"The more we went and saw him, the more we watched parts of his game, the more we were amazed at the things that came easy for him," Christian said. "He's an explosive kid. He's more skilled that I thought. He works hard and he's learning everything."
Felder's self-awareness only helps to develop his basketball IQ. He's mature enough to know that he needs the refinement from his coaching staff, something he developed while he was injured. When he couldn't play, he fostered his love of the game by poring over film while devoting himself to recovery.
"I definitely love running the lanes," Felder said of his new system. "It's a new concept to me. In high school, they try to teach you how to run lanes, but you really just run wild. In college, you have to be able to run that lane as part of a system. This is a game that's bigger, better and faster. There's more 3-point shooting and better players. So I know I'm going to have to learn to adjust and (develop into) playing against them."
The ACC has always been a home for the elite basketball player, and it's always been an attraction for complete athletes. It's the proving ground for everyone who always dominated but wanted the next challenge, and every program can boast success stories as part of its lineage.
Beyond that, though, the ability to continually foster environments for development are where players are drawn and where teams are built to succeed. Boston College is known for its ability to churn out polished diamonds after smoothing out rough cuts. This year, the process continues as it begins for CJ Felder.
Football: Head Coach Bill O'Brien Media Availability (November 4, 2025)
Tuesday, November 04
Football: Jeremiah Franklin Media Availability (November 4, 2025)
Tuesday, November 04
Women's Basketball: Holy Cross Postgame Press Conference (Nov. 3, 2025)
Tuesday, November 04
Football: Lewis Bond Press Conference (Nov. 1, 2025)
Sunday, November 02
