David Bell To Play Tonight

MIDDLE ISLAND, NEW YORK -- You had to feel for some of the coaches from the staffs of East Carolina, Providence, Massachusetts, and Boston College. Some of these staffs had made the long trip in to the eastern part of Long Island to watch David Bell, the 6-7 swingman from Mount Zion Christian Academy of Durham, North Carolina.

Bell was supposed to play but didn't. The coaching staff of Mount Zion said Bell was not played because he arrived late today.

But Bell will play tonight, according to the staff at Mount Zion. Mount Zion is playing Celestial Prep of Philadelphia, PA, in the Rim Rocker final. We will post the results tonight after the final.

Bell is an interesting prospect for many of the coaches in search of some late talent for next season. His positives are he is one of the best players left. The one negative is you don't know whether he will qualify academically.

Bell heard during the summer from Seton Hall, New Mexico, Kansas, Syracuse, Villanova, Miami, Oklahoma, LaSalle, George Washington, and Kansas St. It's likely that he would have several schools interested in him if he got his academics straightened out.

One of the factors that makes Bell such an intriguing prospect is his ability to face the basket and put the ball on the floor at his height. We have watched him many times over the past two years, and he has displayed an ability to play positions one through three on the basketball court.

Bell was a senior last year at Olney H.S. in Philadelphia.