Newly Committed Jimmy Bell Jr. Brings Size and Toughness to West Virginia

As West Virginia will get one other huge man to decide to the basketball program, the shortage of huge males has seemingly modified during the last week. On Sunday night time, JUCO huge man Jimmy Bell Jr. dedicated to West Virginia.

Earlier than Mohamed Wague dedicated to the Mountaineers on Monday, WVU solely had one huge man in James Okonkwo standing at 6-foot-8 on the roster. Now the teaching workers has added two 6-foot-10 bigs in Wague (210 kilos) and Bell (280 kilos).

Bell comes from Moberly Space CC the place he posted 9.3 factors, 9.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per sport. The Michigan native involves Morgantown with two years of eligibility, so he has time to develop below Bob Huggins. Through the recruitment for Bell, Huggins informed the large man what he wants.

“Getting the ball on the block, [he] desires a man he can throw it right down to,” Bell Jr. informed WV Sports activities Now. “He’s very assured that I’m the man to do it.”

Throughout his solely season in JUCO play, Bell shot 59 p.c from the sector. Bell additionally performed two seasons at St. Louis, averaging 3.1 factors and a pair of.6 rebounds on 49 p.c capturing. Bell has confirmed that he can shoot properly from the sector. Final season, the Mountaineers struggled within the paint offensively and defensively. WVU completed 352nd within the nation in defensive rebounding and 328th in two-point makes an attempt. With the addition of Bell, his 59 p.c capturing from the sector and his 9.1 rebounds per sport can actually assist the void that wanted to be addressed through the offseason.

You can not deny the scale of Bell; 6-foot-10 and 280 kilos isn’t any joke. Bell will be capable to dimension up the Large 12 facilities and management the paint in opposition to these which are smaller than him. Final season, the staff relied on Isaiah Cottrell, who was coming off an Achilles damage, to play powerful down low. That didn’t appear to work as Cottrell spent a while gaining his confidence again in making contact with the opposite gamers.

Bell is motivated to carry again the toughness that West Virginia basketball is all about.

“I’m trying ahead to bringing bully ball, toughness, and profitable again to Motown,” Bell informed WV Sports activities Now. “I can’t wait to see and play in entrance of the entire followers. LET’S RIDE!!!”