SEATTLE – Being a big man can often be a thankless role in basketball. Defense is the priority — with rebounding, shot-blocking and clogging up the paint taking the main focus, all while providing scoring opportunities for guards to add to their point totals. But for 6-foot-8 forward and Southern Utah University transfer Brock Felder, entering his debut season with Seattle University men’s basketball, it’s all part of the job.
Felder, a junior forward from Parowan, Utah, joins the Redhawks with pedigree. As a senior at Parowan High School, he received state tournament MVP honors after leading the Rams to the 2023 state title, where his offense shined — averaging 21.4 points per game and earning a McDonald’s All-American nomination. Making the jump to the college game, Felder’s scoring ability continued to stand out. In his two seasons at Southern Utah, he shot 60 percent from the field, posted six double-figure games and anchored the Thunderbirds’ defense.
Self-described as a “bruiser” in the paint, Felder isn’t the only athlete in the family. His mom and dad played volleyball and football at Eastern Washington University, respectively, instilling a mentality of focus and physicality that he’s added to his basketball tool belt. Felder credits his mother for showing how a move to the Redhawks and the Pacific Northwest could elevate his game — given her keen eye for recruitment and player fit after her career in Cheney.
“My mom coached at Dixie State for nine years for volleyball, so she could tell me if a program is good or organized,” Felder said. “So she definitely led me here. She told me Seattle U has good coaching and they’ll push me to be better.”
Though Felder’s offensive touch has been a key contributor to his success, he acknowledges that in head coach Chris Victor’s system, defense comes first. Paired with the mindset of getting one percent better every day, Felder is looking to lean into his size and strengths as he prepares to take the court for the Redhawks this year.
“I’m definitely a bigger defensive threat, a shot-blocker, and just being physical and pushing people out of the paint. Definitely a lot of rebounding,” Felder said. “I want to continue to be dominant in the post. If I get two feet in the paint, I’m scoring it. I want to be quick to a move, quick to screen, quick to get out — just opening things up for other people.”
In his recruitment, he said having a coaching staff with similar playing experience was pivotal in building accountability and learning the tools of the trade. From there, the connection took off, with Felder confident his skill set would improve and he’d play a central role in the defensive scheme.
“I feel like we have really good coaches here,” Felder said. “I really like having a ‘big man’ coach who knows the game, and played the game as a big man, to pass that down to us bigs.”
He added: “I like all of the coaches — from my visit to our phone calls — everyone was super cool. I felt like we just clicked, and I knew I wanted to come here and play for them.”
Off the court, Felder says he’s looking forward to reconnecting with his new environment. Growing up — following the bond his parents made with Washington through their playing careers — Felder made multiple trips to the Emerald City to visit family, including his aunt, who lives about an hour outside the Seattle area.
“We’ve done Snoqualmie Falls and the hike there, different places to hike too. I’ve been to the Space Needle. They’ve also taken me out on their boat a few times, so that’s all been fun. It’s different being so close to the water — there’s no water in Utah.”
In his spare time, Felder decompresses with his favorite movies and TV series, including Dragon Ball Z, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. He also listens to classic rock to relax and get in the right headspace for game days — a habit influenced by his father.
“I’m a nerd, man. I love all of that stuff,” Felder said, smiling. “’70s music before the game — well, all the time really. Classic rock — just the hits! My dad definitely loves that kind of music. So growing up, it was that kind of music all the way around.”
As much as his favorite media helps with recovery, Felder carries a level of focus to learn, improve and never dwell on a tough outing. For him, there’s only what’s in front of him.
“I just focus on the next game, the next play,” Felder said. “Obviously you need to watch the film and see what you did wrong and learn from it, but you just need to move forward. You can’t change what you already did.”
As Seattle U looks to make an impact in its first season in the West Coast Conference, Redhawk fans will get to see Felder’s personality, concentration and discipline take center stage under the lights of the Redhawk Center and Climate Pledge Arena. More than anything, he wants to wow the audience and help Seattle U climb to the top of the WCC standings come tournament time.
“I want to give them a good show,” Felder said. “I want to win for them, as well. The more you win, the more fans will come. People want to come watch if you’re winning, you know? I definitely want to build good relationships with them.”
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