Sports

Feldman keeping his sweet shot in the Bronx

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If you’re an aficionado of high school basketball around the Bronx, then you already know of Will Feldman.

He’s the lanky guard with the three-point stroke who made a habit of torturing opponents with his long-range shooting playing for the Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy Tigers.

In 10 games this past season, Feldman lit up opponents for at least 20 points while eclipsing the 30-point plateau three times. 

His best outing came in a 37-point performance against Marie Curie, while he dropped 35 points in a victory over American Studies. 

In the final game of his high school career — a 78-69 loss to East New York in the Public School Athletic League playoffs — Feldman still poured in 29 points.

So you can see why opposing coaches are not even a little sad to see him graduate.

“My four years went by super fast,” Feldman said, “the fastest four years of my life, to be honest with you.”

During that time, Feldman was a major part of building a strong basketball program at RKA, leading the Tigers to back-to-back 15-2 regular season records, and capturing the Bronx B-1 Division title both years. 

But it was his sophomore season, when the Tigers went 9-8 and reached the postseason, Feldman is most proud.

“I would say my best memory was 10th grade year when we made the playoffs for the first time,” he said. “We had two wins in the two previous years, and then that year no one expected us to do well, and we actually wound up making the playoffs and also got a first-round win. That was definitely my best memory.”

It was the beginning of the rise of the RKA program that Feldman thinks will continue even after he is gone.

“I’m glad that I helped turn things around and get the program going and being in the playoffs every year,” Feldman said. “I think the program is going to do well again next year, and for years to come. And I’m glad I was part of that.”

If you didn’t get to witness Feldman work his on-court magic in high school, you have a reprieve. He will still be in the area the next four years, bringing his skills to Lehman College in the fall.

“I wanted to stay home,” he said. “It’s the comfort level of just being home and being able to just focus on basketball and my education and being able to be around my family. I just thought it was the best place for me to go.”

And it doesn’t hurt that Lehman, which has enjoyed a string of successful seasons under head coach Steve Schulman, will have more than a few openings on its roster next season. It’s the perfect scenario for an incoming freshman looking to make an impact.

“They have a lot of seniors leaving, I think there are nine guys leaving,” Feldman said. “So there will be lots of openings, so hopefully I can go in there and end up starting. I know I have to work for it, but I definitely think I’ll have a chance to play a lot next year.”

And Feldman wants to be part of an incoming Lehman class that keeps the successful seasons coming for the Lightning.

“I know Coach Schulman is a great coach, and he’s going to do good things with the program, like always,” Feldman said. “So I think we’re going to be good for the next four years, and hopefully I can play a big part in that.”

Until school begins in the fall, Feldman will work in Westchester County this summer, doing what he loves to do now — and perhaps as a career down the line. He’ll work his second year as a counselor at a SUNY Purchase camp called Future Stars.

“I’ll be in the gym playing basketball all summer basically,” he said.

Which is good preparation for a possible career in coaching once college is done.

“I was thinking of majoring in recreation and physical science so I could be a coach,” Feldman said. “You never know how far basketball can take you.”

Will Feldman, high school basketball, Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy Tigers, Sean Brennan

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