McFarlin attended Willowridge High School in Houston, Texas, where he led his team to win the state championship in his senior year, as he averaged 15.9 points, 14.9 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 3.2 steals.

McFarlin played college basketball at Oklahoma State University, and helped the Cowboys to a Final Four appearance in 2004, where the team lost to Georgia Tech on a late-game basket.

He is one of four Oklahoma State players to have over 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, and 100 blocks,[1] the other three being Byron Houston, Leroy Combs and Bryant Reeves.

Prior to the 2010/2011 season, he signed with Hapoel Lev HaSharon of the Israeli Liga Leumit.

On May 22, 2019, McFarlin was named the head coach of the Ponca City Boys High School basketball team in Oklahoma.