Experience during year in Indian Land led Rakym Felder back to South Carolina

Brooklyn native Rakym Felder spent his freshman year of high school at Indian Land. South Carolina made enough of a positive impact on the 6-foot, left-handed basketball standout that he committed earlier this week to play for Frank Martin and the University of South Carolina next season.

“It's a blessing to see everyone support my decision and help me to get past it," Felder said regarding how many reacted, particularly on Twitter, to the announcement.

After moving down to South Carolina for his ninth grade year, Felder soon found himself on the football field, something he hasn’t done before or since. He was a well-built running back, but it was on the basketball court where Felder really impressed with the Warriors.

Indian Land boys basketball head coach Nate Smith recalled his first reaction to seeing him play.

"The way he handled the ball, I knew he was a true point guard,” Smith said. “That New York style, a little bit of swagger, attitude and that toughness.”

Smith never doubted that he had talent in the backcourt, as Felder meshed with recent George Washington signee Darnell Rogers. He told people that he may have had two of the premier high school guards in America, but no one though that could come out of a school like Indian Land.

Felder was an All-Area performer for the Warriors before moving back to New York after the school year. He currently attends Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, and said he’s had good grades to match a good season of basketball in which he’s averaged 16 points, six assists and four rebounds per game.

He lauded the general vibe in South Carolina; the laid-back atmosphere, the ability to stay focused and also said that the particularly good weather was enough to make him want to return after some time away.

He had other offers on the table from Temple and Quinnipiac, but said that the pitch from Gamecocks head coach Frank Martin was enough to bring him in.

Felder has yet to make an official visit to Columbia, but said he plans to “very soon.”

Smith added that he’d like to see Felder line up alongside Lancaster native Sindarius Thornwell, who’s currently a junior guard for Martin’s squad. Thornwell left Lancaster after his junior year of high school to play at Oak Hill Academy before attending South Carolina.

The Indian Land coach wasn’t surprised to see his former guard become a Gamecock, and said that Felder has the potential to make a big impact in Columbia.

"[South] Carolina is getting something special that they don't realize they have. He can be one of the best athletes to come out of Carolina's basketball program."

This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 1:12 PM with the headline "Experience during year in Indian Land led Rakym Felder back to South Carolina."