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Felton Opens Up

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. - When the first session started at the USA Developmental Camp, there were a few players missing from the action. One of the most notable ones was 2017 UNC commitment, Jalek Felton. The athletic and versatile junior from Mullins (SC) was nowhere to be found.
Then, about midway through the early session, the 6-3 junior walked into the arena, with two other players, who had some trouble getting to Colorado due to flight delays and unforeseen circumstances.
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"We had some storms back home that cancelled all of our flights," he told THI in regard to what his specific hold up was. His flights out of Charlotte were moved back to the next morning and he flew to Denver, which is an hour and 20-minutes north of the USA site.
"I was up at 6 a.m. this morning flying out and then we had to drive down here after we arrived," he said. "It was a long day already."
Felton didn't immediately jump in on the action. His mind and body just weren't in sync. But that was nothing that a little rest and recovery couldn't help.
"I felt kind of sluggish. They asked me if I wanted to play right when I got here, but I told I wasn't ready, so I went and took a nap and then came out for the (later) games. Then I felt so much better," he added.
In the evening session, Felton was just OK, by his standards. THI has certainly seen him play much better. And the second day of action was where the nephew of former UNC great Raymond Felton got back to showing his skills. He came to life and had moments where he simply took over.
We asked him how he felt his performance went on the second day. He had scouts and reporters buzzing with his playmaking abilities in transition.
"Great," he said, when asked how he felt he had played. "I felt much better today, after I got caught up and used to the altitude. I think I played much better today."
And he did.
The quick and athletic junior did what he does best. He grabbed rebounds off of the defensive glass and led his squad on the break, where he showed his creative flair with clever transition passing, explosive speed, burst and big-time vision. Seeing him dish out so many assists while going full-speed does nothing to settle the debate on his best position at the next level. For now, the best term just might be the safe choice - combo guard. Felton explains his mindset.
"I still say that I am a pass first type of guy. I really like to set my teammates up and that gets me going. I know I can score when I want to, but I really like to get them going too," he said.
UNC fans have been pretty nervous with Felton's verbal commitment over the past few months. He originally committed to UNC, but word leaked out that the commitment might not be as firm as folks originally thought. He was having conversations with other college programs, due to the NCAA cloud that was hanging over Chapel Hill.
For now, though, Felton tells THI that everyone can rest easy. He is, without a doubt, a North Carolina Tar Heel.
"He came down to my school like two weeks ago," he said about Roy Williams. "We talked about how the NCAA is changing, how they are cracking down on grades and stuff. Everyone has to have like a 2.3 or 2.5 GPA or you are an automatic redshirt. He was coming to fill me in and let me know so I can work harder in the classroom and on the court too. We talked about that first. And then I told him, I am 100% there. I am UNC bound."
The NCAA was the reason for his teetering.
"That was really what it was, really," he explained. "That was the only thing. It kind of scared me. I thought they were going to have some bans, but we had a conversation and they're not, so I am there. I am 100-percent there."
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