Bell, Wague Both Chasing Goals During First Week on WVU’s Campus

West Virginia big men Jimmy Bell Jr. and Mohamed Wague have been in Morgantown for just a week and a half, spending most of their time in the gym. The newly signed Mountaineers both have been very motivated to work out since their arrival.

WV Sports Now spoke to both Bell and Wague about their first few days on campus. The big men both are in the gym working, trying to work on certain weight goals. For Bell, he wants to cut weight while Wague wants to add.

“I’m down I believe 12 pounds already and it’s just getting better and better,” Bell said.

“The gym [has] easy access at all times and I’m out here working to putting on weight,” Wague said.

Bell came to West Virginia listed as 6-foot-10 and 290 pounds. Bell has spent this past season at Moberly Area CC in Missouri, averaging 9.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks on 59 percent shooting. The Saginaw, MI, native spent two seasons at Saint Louis prior to his Junior College stint. WVU strength and conditioning coach Shaun Brown has been helping Bell cut some weight.

“It has been great. Coach Shaun and I have built an amazing relationship from the first day Mo and I [have] been in the gym getting work in,” Bell said.

But Bell is not done. The JUCO product has set a goal of weight to cut by the start of the season.

“I want and am going get to around 260-270 pounds before season starts,” Bell said.

For Wague, the Mali native is listed at 6-foot-10 and 225 pounds. Wague averaged 14.8 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks on 65 percent shooting through 35 games at Harcum College (PA). As a freshman, Wague earned NJCAA All-American First Team honors this past season. Wague actually hasn’t found it difficult to add on weight so far during his time on campus.

“It has been easy. I’ve been lifting and eating a little different like out of the three meals per day. I got to add some snacks in between them,” Wague said. “It’s for sure working so far.”

West Virginia’s indoor basketball facility has 24/7 access for the players to put work in. This past season, WVU head coach Bob Huggins expressed his annoyance with the lack of working out outside of his practices. Bell and Wague are both having three individual workouts per day, which is way different from their times in Junior College.

“There’s a huge difference just how things are done, how you are expected to do certain things and accountable for your job,” Bell said. “I love it, I wouldn’t want it any other way because if coach Shaun [Brown] can trust me this early then I think this will be a great year.”

Bell and Wague will continue to be working out throughout the summer while they wait for the rest of their new teammates to arrive. Josiah Harris and Patrick Suemnick are planning on moving in during the first weekend of June; Harris on June 4 and Suemnick on June 5.

WVU’s Mohamed Wague and Jimmy Bell Jr. have been putting in work already during their first week on campus pic.twitter.com/XopOtwyHnp

— Ethan Bock (@ethanbock_) May 18, 2022