Prospect Spotlight: Dwight Felton (2018)
Whenever a team reaches the championship game in their respective league/conference, it can be regarded as a successful season. The thing about it is, there can only be one winner. If your team isn’t the one hoisting the trophy when the buzzer sounds, it can almost feel as if the season was a waste rather than a success. Basketball is filled with a roller coaster of emotions. For the Mount Carmel Cougars, they experienced coming up short in two championship games last season.
The Cougars matched up against a very good Mount Saint Joseph team in both the MIAA A Conference and Baltimore Catholic League championship games. The Cougars lost both games. Despite finishing with an impressive 24-9 overall record, the losses weighed heavily on 2018 point guard Dwight Felton.
Felton transferred to Mount Carmel last year and immediately came in and won the starting point guard position. It was his first year playing at the varsity level, so Felton had some adjustments to get used to, such as the pace of the game. Once he got a few games under his belt, he was able to hone in on getting his teammates involved and settling into his role as the floor general.
Felton averaged 12 points, five assists, and four rebounds. Playing next to George Washington signee Terry Nolan Jr. meant that Felton had to be cognizant of where he was at all times. Nolan Jr. was one of the best scorers in the area. Felton managed to set him up well and delivered the ball where Nolan Jr. was most effective.
Moving forward, the Cougars will head into 2017-18 without both Nolan Jr. and Christian Evans. Two key scorers from last season’s team. Felton, Jordan Jones, Will Thomas, and Brandon Watson will be expected to step up in a big way to repeat the success they experienced in 2016-17.
“We have a good core group returning,” Felton told PrepHoops. “We work extremely hard both on and off the court. We know what it takes to be a top team and just trust the process. Coach Hakim [Hibbert] gives us the mindset of ‘take everything.’ We’re on a mission to win both (MIAA and BCL) championships next season.”
The summer is a test for all basketball players in terms of finding out if the individual truly wants to improve. While most players hone in on a particular part of their game, Felton is focusing on his cardio and challenging himself in the weight room to prepare himself for the collegiate level. When he is on the court, Felton is focusing on his touch on his floater and three’s. Those two things are crucial for point guards in today’s game.
Wagner, UMBC, Mount Saint Mary’s, and Rider have all expressed interest in the 6’1 guard.
What can a college coach expect from the 3.0 floor general?
“An uptempo player,” Felton said. “I like to play fast and really getting after it defensively by guarding 94 feet. Also, I love taking on a leadership role. As a point guard, my mindset is getting my guys involved first, and score when I need to.”
(Video was from last June)