Bob Huggins Tells 2022 JUCO Jimmy Bell Jr. What He Needs

West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins has been in talks with 2022 JUCO prospect Jimmy Bell Jr. over the last few days, telling the big man what he needs. Bell was offered a scholarship by WVU over the weekend.

Bell (6-foot-10, 280 pounds) talked with WV Sports Now about his recruiting process and what Huggins told him he needs.

“Getting the ball on the block, [he] wants a guy he can throw it down to,” Bell Jr. said. “He is very confident that I am the guy to do it.”

WVU assistant coach Ron Everhart has been in talks with Bell as well.

Bell is a big man from Moberly Area CC in Missouri. The Saginaw, MI, native spent two seasons at Saint Louis under head coach Travis Ford. Bell appeared in 50 games for the Billikens, averaging 3.1 points and 2.6 rebounds on 49 percent shooting. Bell has improved his game very much at Moberly, averaging 9.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks on 59 percent shooting.

“This season I worked on being dominant on the block and fighting double and triple teams. It helped my game a lot,” he said. “I also enjoyed being considered and having the time of being a leader on this team.”

Bell told WV Sports Now that he has heard from ETSU, New Mexico State, Oakland, Saint Louis, South Carolina, Temple and other schools. Bell is looking forward to going on with his recruiting process as he looks to jump back up to Division-I basketball.

“I would say my game is kinda like Zach Randolph or DeMarcus ‘Boogie’ Cousins. Just because they play bully ball and dominate on the blocks, able to put the ball on the floor from the elbow and just play mean and aggressive. [I can] score on the block, bring a player that can have a play run for him and produce with efficiency.”

Bell will have two years of eligibility left. WV Sports Now will keep up to date with the latest recruiting and transfer portal news during the offseason.