Post by rainman on May 20, 2008 15:00:13 GMT -5
....signs with Fairmont State:
State scoring leader Bell signs with FSU
By Duane Cochran
Times West Virginian
FAIRMONT Tue, May 20 2008
— Sometimes the best recruiting tool is family.
Magnolia High School senior standout Alycia Bell had numerous options to consider when deciding upon a college at which to continue her basketball career. However, something kept drawing the talented shooting guard, who led the state in scoring this past season with a 27.0 average, to Fairmont State University.
That something, or someone in this case, was her older sister Micah Bell, a second-team All-West Virginia Conference selection in volleyball for the Falcons, who just concluded her sophomore year at FSU.
“I was looking at a lot of different colleges, but my sister went to Fairmont and I'm familiar with the campus there and had been there to visit her and hang out and I just really liked it there,” said Bell, who recently signed with FSU's women's basketball team. “There was a time a while ago when I was considering playing volleyball in college, but my senior year I met coach Mac (Lady Falcon head coach Steve McDonald) and I really liked him and I really like how determined he is to have a successful program which he does. That factor really appealed to me because that's exactly how I am. I want to be successful.
“It became pretty clear to me that basketball was the right choice for me. I'm more suited for that. Plus, I couldn't do the same thing as my sister.”
The 5-8 Bell brings with her to Fairmont State a list of impressive credentials. Despite suffering a season-ending knee injury in the next-to-last game of the regular season this winter, Bell still finished third in the state in the voting for female basketball player of the year. She also was a first-team Class AA All-State selection and, as noted, led West Virginia in scoring. She scored a school-record 41 points this past season against Weir and as a junior she captained the second-team Class AA All-State squad when she averaged 18.0 points per outing.
“Alycia is a prolific scorer,” said McDonald. “She shoots well from the perimeter and can finish inside.
“She's a very tough competitor who absolutely hates to lose.”
Bell also drew a wealth of well-deserved praise from her high school coach Dave Chapman, who earlier this season told the Wheeling Intelligencer/News Register:
“I know there are many outstanding girls out there in triple-A and even in double-A this season, but Alycia is as good as anybody I've seen,” said Chapman. “She works harder than anybody else and deserves whatever good things that come her way.”
Bell had surgery in mid-March to repair her injured knee and will be redshirted this season for the Lady Falcons in order to help her be at 100 percent when she starts playing in the fall of 2009. She recently began light workouts and hopes to be able to practice with the team this coming October when fall drills for the Lady Falcons begin.
“I'm just starting now to jog and do some of the little things I couldn't do,” said Bell. “Coach and I have already talked and I'm going to redshirt this year because there's no way I would be ready to play.
“That's fine with me. It's going to give me a chance to get better before I have to play and it's also going to give me a chance to adjust to college and to college basketball. I think I can learn a lot this season by watching and hopefully if everything goes well I'll be able to practice by the the time fall gets here.”
Bell is no stranger to success. Magnolia made trips to the state tournament in three of her four high school seasons and won the Class AA title when she was a freshman and her sister Micah was a junior.
For much of her career Bell has served as a point guard, but she feels she's more of a two-guard which is where McDonald plans on playing her at Fairmont.
“I'm really looking forward to that opportunity,” she said. “I've always felt I'm more of a two. I'm stronger than I look and I've always been able to penetrate and score. One thing I really want to work on is my outside shooting. I know I need to get better in that area for college so I'm looking at that as a challenge for myself during the next year.”
Bell, who plans on majoring in physical education at FSU, can also do more things than just score. This past season she averaged 8.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists for the Blue Eagles.
“Alycia's vision, the way she can breakdown a defense off the dribble, plus her passing ability are exceptional,” said Chapman. “The best thing about her is she looks to pass first and will turn down a shot if one of her teammates is open for a better one.”
State scoring leader Bell signs with FSU
By Duane Cochran
Times West Virginian
FAIRMONT Tue, May 20 2008
— Sometimes the best recruiting tool is family.
Magnolia High School senior standout Alycia Bell had numerous options to consider when deciding upon a college at which to continue her basketball career. However, something kept drawing the talented shooting guard, who led the state in scoring this past season with a 27.0 average, to Fairmont State University.
That something, or someone in this case, was her older sister Micah Bell, a second-team All-West Virginia Conference selection in volleyball for the Falcons, who just concluded her sophomore year at FSU.
“I was looking at a lot of different colleges, but my sister went to Fairmont and I'm familiar with the campus there and had been there to visit her and hang out and I just really liked it there,” said Bell, who recently signed with FSU's women's basketball team. “There was a time a while ago when I was considering playing volleyball in college, but my senior year I met coach Mac (Lady Falcon head coach Steve McDonald) and I really liked him and I really like how determined he is to have a successful program which he does. That factor really appealed to me because that's exactly how I am. I want to be successful.
“It became pretty clear to me that basketball was the right choice for me. I'm more suited for that. Plus, I couldn't do the same thing as my sister.”
The 5-8 Bell brings with her to Fairmont State a list of impressive credentials. Despite suffering a season-ending knee injury in the next-to-last game of the regular season this winter, Bell still finished third in the state in the voting for female basketball player of the year. She also was a first-team Class AA All-State selection and, as noted, led West Virginia in scoring. She scored a school-record 41 points this past season against Weir and as a junior she captained the second-team Class AA All-State squad when she averaged 18.0 points per outing.
“Alycia is a prolific scorer,” said McDonald. “She shoots well from the perimeter and can finish inside.
“She's a very tough competitor who absolutely hates to lose.”
Bell also drew a wealth of well-deserved praise from her high school coach Dave Chapman, who earlier this season told the Wheeling Intelligencer/News Register:
“I know there are many outstanding girls out there in triple-A and even in double-A this season, but Alycia is as good as anybody I've seen,” said Chapman. “She works harder than anybody else and deserves whatever good things that come her way.”
Bell had surgery in mid-March to repair her injured knee and will be redshirted this season for the Lady Falcons in order to help her be at 100 percent when she starts playing in the fall of 2009. She recently began light workouts and hopes to be able to practice with the team this coming October when fall drills for the Lady Falcons begin.
“I'm just starting now to jog and do some of the little things I couldn't do,” said Bell. “Coach and I have already talked and I'm going to redshirt this year because there's no way I would be ready to play.
“That's fine with me. It's going to give me a chance to get better before I have to play and it's also going to give me a chance to adjust to college and to college basketball. I think I can learn a lot this season by watching and hopefully if everything goes well I'll be able to practice by the the time fall gets here.”
Bell is no stranger to success. Magnolia made trips to the state tournament in three of her four high school seasons and won the Class AA title when she was a freshman and her sister Micah was a junior.
For much of her career Bell has served as a point guard, but she feels she's more of a two-guard which is where McDonald plans on playing her at Fairmont.
“I'm really looking forward to that opportunity,” she said. “I've always felt I'm more of a two. I'm stronger than I look and I've always been able to penetrate and score. One thing I really want to work on is my outside shooting. I know I need to get better in that area for college so I'm looking at that as a challenge for myself during the next year.”
Bell, who plans on majoring in physical education at FSU, can also do more things than just score. This past season she averaged 8.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists for the Blue Eagles.
“Alycia's vision, the way she can breakdown a defense off the dribble, plus her passing ability are exceptional,” said Chapman. “The best thing about her is she looks to pass first and will turn down a shot if one of her teammates is open for a better one.”
