JIMMY BELL NEWS

Is Jimmy Bell the next double-duty Dog? and a look back at two- and three-sport State stars Basketball post Jimmy Bell practicing to be the next two-sport Bulldog

APRIL 5 • 247SPORTS.COM

'Iron Sharpens Iron!' Tolu Smith Praises Jimmy Bell Jr. Mississippi State men’s basketball forward Tolu Smith illustrates the “luxury” of sharing the floor with Jimmy Bell Jr.

JANUARY 9 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

'Iron Sharpens Iron!' Tolu Smith Praises Jimmy Bell Jr. Mississippi State men’s basketball forward Tolu Smith illustrates the “luxury” of sharing the floor with Jimmy Bell Jr.

JANUARY 9 • SUNHERALD.COM

Jimmy Bell Jr. Named SEC Men's Basketball Player of the Week Mississippi State forward Jimmy Bell Jr. set multiple season-highs against Rutgers.

DECEMBER 26, 2023 • SUNHERALD.COM

Dominates big man matchup Bell ended Saturday's 70-60 win over Rutgers with 17 points (6-11 FG, 5-6 FT), 18 rebounds, one assist and three blocks in 30 minutes.

Impact Not only was the individual stat line impressive, but bell thoroughly outplayed his highly-regarded counterpart in Rutgers' Clifford Omoruyi. The latter didn't record a single rebound in the contest -- something that's never happened in 83 career starts -- and logged just three points before fouling out in 25 minutes. Bell gets much of the credit for that, as well as for picking up the slack down low all season after multiple key frontcourt pieces were injured early. The Bulldogs are now 10-2 on the year with reinforcements on the way.

DECEMBER 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jimmy Bell Jr., Mississippi State surge past North Alabama Nov 14, 2023; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs forward Jimmy Bell Jr.

NOVEMBER 15, 2023 • SUNHERALD.COM

Mississippi State beats North Alabama 81-54 behind a double-double by Jimmy Bell Jr.

Jimmy Bell Jr. had 14 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, freshman Josh Hubbard added 12 points, and Mississippi State beat North Alabama 81-54

NOVEMBER 15, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Near double-double in win Bell closed Wednesday's 71-56 win over Arizona State with 13 points (5-6 FG, 3-4 FT), nine rebounds and one assist across 26 minutes.

Impact Bell, who averaged 4.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game across 34 starts for West Virginia last season, has stepped into a large role with Mississippi State. KeShawn Bryant (foot) and Tolu Smith (foot) are missing time with injury, with neither returning until mid-December at the earliest. Gai Chol logged 10 minutes Monday, but Bell should have the lion's share of center minutes for the short-term future.

NOVEMBER 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ex-West Virginia F Jimmy Bell Jr. transfers to Mississippi State Former West Virginia forward Jimmy Bell Jr.

MAY 10, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Limited role in blowout loss Bell racked up six points (1-2 FG, 4-6 FT) and five rebounds in 15 minutes during Saturday's 94-60 loss to Texas.

Impact Bell maintained his relatively moderate role in the Mountaineers' starting lineup as the team was ran off the floor Saturday. The 6-foot-10 senior has started all 24 of his game this season, but he's now averaged just 19.3 minutes per contest. Bell has still found ways to affect the game with 5.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. However, his overall production is more akin to a prominent role player off the bench than a true full-time starting center.

FEBRUARY 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Restrained in post-game altercation Bell was involved in a verbal altercation with TCU students following Tuesday's 76-72 loss and needed to be restrained by teammates, per a video released by Frogs Today.

Impact It was already a frustrating night on the court for Bell, who had as many turnovers (4) as points and generally didn't make an impact against a stout TCU defense. The situation apparently boiled over when a student pointed their finger in the face of Bell's mother (per Chris), so the reaction is at least understandable given the context. Given the situation was diffused relatively quickly and never got physical, there may not be further discipline forthcoming for WVU's starting center.

FEBRUARY 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Bounces back in big upset Bell ended Saturday's 80-77 win over Auburn with 15 points (5-7 FG, 5-5 FT), seven rebounds and three steals across 29 minutes.

Impact Bell recovered after putting up five combined points over his previous two outings. The 285-pound center hasn't provided much in the way of consistent scoring this season, though he's been a regular presence on the boards with a team-high 6.1 rebounds per game. Bell has also maintained this production down low since the start of conference play, which should continue to buoy his marginal fantasy value moving forward.

JANUARY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Another limited outing Bell provided four points (2-4 FG) and five rebounds in 19 minutes during Saturday's 69-61 loss to Texas.

Impact Bell has now averaged 6.3 points and 6.1 rebounds this season. The 285-pound center does lead the Mountaineers in rebounding average, though he sits just narrowly ahead of 6-foot-9 forward Tre Mitchell (5.9), who also led the team with eight boards Saturday. Expect these two to continue jockeying for boards moving forward.

JANUARY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

No. 7 Texas hosts Johnson and West Virginia

West Virginia hosts the No. 7 Texas Longhorns after Kedrian Johnson scored 20 points in West Virginia's 74-65 win over the TCU Horned Frogs

JANUARY 20, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Johnson, Bell lead West Virginia over No. 14 TCU 74-65

Kedrian Johnson scored 20 points and West Virginia built a big early lead and outlasted No. 14 TCU 74-65 on Wednesday night

JANUARY 19, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Basketball is Jimmy Bell Jr.'s focus, but the thought of playing football never goes away - Dominion Post MORGANTOWN -- It is the evening of January 9, and in two more days, Jimmy Bell Jr. would be lining up against the Baylor men’s basketball te...

JANUARY 16, 2023 • DOMINIONPOST.COM

West Virginia hosts Flagler and Baylor

Baylor plays the West Virginia Mountaineers after Adam Flagler scored 23 points in the Bears' 97-95 overtime loss to the Kansas State Wildcats

JANUARY 10, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Stevenson and West Virginia host Stony Brook

DECEMBER 21, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

West Virginia honors Huggins with 96-78 win over Buffalo

Erik Stevenson scored a season-high 22 points, Jimmy Bell Jr. had a double-double, and West Virginia celebrated Bob Huggins Hall of Fame Day by defeating Buffalo 96-78

DECEMBER 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

12 points in defeat Bell finished Saturday's 84-74 loss to Xavier with 12 points (5-5 FG, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, three assists and one block over 31 minutes.

Impact Bell notched his best scoring performance of the season while also playing a season high in minutes. The 6-foot-10, 285-pound senior averaged just 13.6 minutes per contest despite starting every game leading into Saturday's loss. Bell has now converted 68.2 percent of his 2.8 field-goal tries per game, and his overall value should continue to be capped by his limited playing time.

DECEMBER 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Doesn't score in WVU debut Bell posted seven rebounds, one assist and one steal over 12 minutes during Monday's 76-58 victory over Mount St. Mary's.

Impact Bell was used sparingly in his first game with the West Virginia program. The senior big man last played at the Division 1 level with St. Louis in the 2020-21 season, averaging 1.9 points and 1.8 rebounds in 8.7 minutes across 19 games. Bell then spent a year in the JUCO ranks before joining the Mountaineers this offseason, and his size and experience should earn him significant playing time in the team's frontcourt this season.

NOVEMBER 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to start at center Bell will likely start at center for West Virginia to begin the 2022-23 campaign, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reports.

Impact Bell spent his first two collegiate seasons at Saint Louis and averaged 2.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11.6 minutes per game. He transferred to West Virginia in April and has shed nearly 70 pounds since joining the program. He should have the chance to handle a large role in the frontcourt to begin the year while Tre Mitchell likely starts at power forward.

OCTOBER 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Joins starting lineup Bell will start Friday's game against Richmond, Stu Durando of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact Bell started 30 of 31 games last season but had yet to make an appearance in the starting five until Friday. He will get a look in place of Gibson Jimerson, who appears set to come off the bench.

FEBRUARY 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Available to play Thursday Bell (foot) will be available to play in Thursday's season opener against SIU Edwardsville, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reports.

Impact Bell has been rehabbing from a foot injury sustained back in October. It wasn't expected to cost him any games and now that is confirmed here by coach Travis Ford.

NOVEMBER 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Likely to miss 2-3 weeks Bell (foot) will likely be out for another 2-3 weeks, Stu Durando of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact Head coach Travis Ford said that Bell has been dealing with a sore foot. He should be able to return to practice by early November, if not earlier.

OCTOBER 13, 2020 • ROTOWIRE