BORN: 28/05/2002
LAST TEAM: East Carolina Pirates (NCAA)
HEIGHT: 191 cm
WEIGHT: 91 kg
PRO
- Physicality
- Complete player
- Great offensive rebounder
WEAKNESSES
- Shot selection
- Court vision
- Defensive closeouts
VIDEO
ACTUAL
POTENTIAL
INTRODUCTION
RJ Felton is a guard/forward in his fourth season at East Carolina University. His journey at ECU has been a steady progression, going from 5.1 points in 16.6 minutes during his first season to 17.3 points in 34.6 minutes, earning him a spot on the 2024 All-AAC Third Team. Additionally, he was named to the ACC Preseason First Team for 2024/2025.
PHYSICAL
RJ Felton certainly has a strong, solid physique. While he may lack pure athleticism and verticality, he has strong legs, making him hard to move, an important trait for both offense and defense. Standing 191 cm tall and weighing 91 kg, he can be physically dominant against players in similar roles.
OFFENSIVE PHASE
RJ Felton is an excellent offensive rebounder (2 per game). If not boxed out, he can fight for the rebound with a good sense of positioning, and when moving at speed, it becomes hard to stand between him and the basket due to his physical strength. After a rebound, he tends to go for a right-handed hook shot (effective, he shoots 49% from two). He has a good jumper from mid-range, especially moving to his right (his strong hand), but can also drive to the rim, absorbing contact well thanks to his build. His three-point shot is decent (35.5%) and has improved over the years, although his technique isn’t perfect. At times, he overuses the three-point shot, settling for stationary or off-rhythm shots. He’s much more effective attacking with his right hand, and even when he drives left, he often finishes with his right. At ECU, plays are often run for him to curl into the paint. Overall, he is a mature and complete offensive player (he averages only 1.4 turnovers per game).
DEFENSIVE PHASE
RJ Felton is a good on-ball defender (1.8 steals per game) and hard to move, though he can struggle with the first two dribbles when defending against a quick attack. He’s valuable on the boards (3.9 rebounds per game) and in weak-side defensive help, although he can sometimes be too passive. He may struggle with defensive closeouts, as he occasionally approaches shooters with his center of gravity too high or tries for a block. However, his strength allows him to comfortably defend multiple positions.
IMPROVED AREAS
Despite being a well-rounded and solid player on both ends of the court, RJ Felton still lacks court vision, passing to teammates only if he doesn’t find a one-on-one advantage. He also needs to refine his three-point shot selection. Last season, in 33 games, he took more than 10 three-pointers in 4 games, which is excessive for a player with his physical attributes. Nonetheless, he is ready for professional basketball. In Europe, his physicality could make a significant impact.