Chris Bell transferring to Cal

[dasher]

Chris seems like a good kid who just needs a good coach to push him and unlock his potential. Lucas might be able to get more out of him, but time will tell. I’ve got nothing against him as he gave us 3 years and it just didn’t work out, so at this point a parting of ways was best for both sides. Better coaching and a good system will help Chris on both sides of the ball, but he must make a mental breakthrough to get better.

As I just said, his high school coach couldn't do it and his two college coaches couldn't reach him. Was JB not a good coach?

 

[richard levy]

I think he's getting interest but it's pretty telling that so far none of our out-bound transfers are finding much action. Bell is probably the most attractive of them and he's had some visits, but I don't think many programs are offering the spot on the team he is looking for. We shall see, but most of the major programs have locked up their primary targets already. About 70% of the top 100 transfers are already signed and some of those who haven't committed yet either declared for the NBA draft or entered the portal late.

over a 1000 guys in the portal, which means a lot of teams still need to flesh out their rosters

 

[djcon57]

Because he has NBA potential (my point of view which I know others don’t agree with), I think giving it another shot at a school like Miami is wise. He must do the work on the court, making an effort on defense, moving on offense to get his shot or to make the defense active thus freeing teammates, and off the court - how to improve his mental acuity.

Cole Swider is shooting like 50% from 3 and can barely make an NBA roster.

Bell is literally not close.

 

[Jasoncuse]

Cole Swider is shooting like 50% from 3 and can barely make an NBA roster.

Bell is literally not close.

Bell is so far from an NBA player, it's crazy. Kid can't dribble or do anything except shoot from a standstill.

 

[Fly Rodder]

over a 1000 guys in the portal, which means a lot of teams still need to flesh out their rosters

Rosters, sure. But starting roles on P4 teams with legit tourney aspirations are getting locked up quick.

 

[Orangefizz]

Chris seems like a good kid who just needs a good coach to push him and unlock his potential. Lucas might be able to get more out of him, but time will tell. I’ve got nothing against him as he gave us 3 years and it just didn’t work out, so at this point a parting of ways was best for both sides. Better coaching and a good system will help Chris on both sides of the ball, but he must make a mental breakthrough to get better.

I see Chris’s role as an off the bench sniper where he’s not asked to do anything other than sit in the corner and shoot. The key for him is having a much more talented group of players around him that takes all of the pressure and attention away from him

 

[Owens guy]

It's a little strange to me that Bell is making all of these visits and hasn't found a team yet.

Don't potential teams and players/agents talk about what his projected role would be and NIL before he would make a visit to the school?

I would think those important questions would already be known before Bell makes a visit. Maybe the new team/coaches want to meet Bell in person before any agreement and they haven't been happy with his answers??

 

[Melancer46]

His high school coach couldn't get through to him. His first college coach, a Hall of Famer, couldn't get through to him, his next college coach couldn't get through to him. Maybe it's him.

I do think it's possible that there's a coach out there that does get through to him/a wake up call like this helps take him to another level, but yeah, there comes a time where you gotta think it might just be who he is.

It's a shame because he clearly has the athleticism to be a plus defender and though it's essentially only standstill shooting, he's still very very good at that. If he turned himself into a good defender, he'd be a really valuable player and even a potential NBA guy, but he hasn't really shown any development on that end in his time here and while he made some minimal strides offensively, that's just not enough.

 

[dasher]

I do think it's possible that there's a coach out there that does get through to him/a wake up call like this helps take him to another level, but yeah, there comes a time where you gotta think it might just be who he is.

It's a shame because he clearly has the athleticism to be a plus defender and though it's essentially only standstill shooting, he's still very very good at that. If he turned himself into a good defender, he'd be a really valuable player and even a potential NBA guy, but he hasn't really shown any development on that end in his time here and while he made some minimal strides offensively, that's just not enough.

I said it three years ago, you might remember, I watched him in Spfd Mass at the hoop hall classic. I said that, and I meant it, I am (at the time 66) and I am sure he couldn't stay in front of me. I wasn't joking.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I said it three years ago, you might remember, I watched him in Spfd Mass at the hoop hall classic. I said that, and I meant it, I am (at the time 66) and I am sure he couldn't stay in front of me. I wasn't joking.

On that note, how are your knees doing these days? Hope they're feeling good.

 

[Melancer46]

I said it three years ago, you might remember, I watched him in Spfd Mass at the hoop hall classic. I said that, and I meant it, I am (at the time 66) and I am sure he couldn't stay in front of me. I wasn't joking.

I wasn't very impressed in the handful of games that I watched of him either lol. He did at least shoot the ball far better here than he did in high school.

 

[Nicknack]

His high school coach couldn't get through to him. His first college coach, a Hall of Famer, couldn't get through to him, his next college coach couldn't get through to him. Maybe it's him.

Exactly. It's also not on the coaches at this point - the message (what he needs to do to be a better basketball player) isn't very complicated. The fact that Boeheim and Red stood by him as long as they did is commendable. I gave up on him long ago. For his sake, I hope he figures it out but at the same time, I don't really care any longer.

 

[dasher]

On that note, how are your knees doing these days? Hope they're feeling good.

No problem at all. Thank you for asking

 

[RedtheGOB]

Hah is this all we have to debate this afternoon

 

[Orangezoo]

I wasn't very impressed in the handful of games that I watched of him either lol. He did at least shoot the ball far better here than he did in high school.

Yeah I remember you both calling that out then some of the film shared showed him putting up his share of bricks and airballs to go with the makes. He’s now mostly just an older version of that same player which is the true shame.

 

[MSOrange]

I said it three years ago, you might remember, I watched him in Spfd Mass at the hoop hall classic. I said that, and I meant it, I am (at the time 66) and I am sure he couldn't stay in front of me. I wasn't joking.

I remember that post and thought it was exaggeration, which is out of character for you. It wasn't.

 

[Hopkins16]

As I just said, his high school coach couldn't do it and his two college coaches couldn't reach him. Was JB not a good coach?

It takes some people longer and a bit of turmoil to grow and “get it”. My hope is that it comes together at this point. The fact that he stayed 3 years with us and didn’t bounce around counts for something.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

It takes some people longer and a bit of turmoil to grow and “get it”. My hope is that it comes together at this point. The fact that he stayed 3 years with us and didn’t bounce around counts for something.

I hope so also, but I feel sometimes his self awareness needs a reality check. I think that's why he would get called out about his rebounding. And not just by JAB, but I think Frischilla and either Corey Alexander or Jay Williams also.

 

[IthacaMatt]

It's a little strange to me that Bell is making all of these visits and hasn't found a team yet.

Don't potential teams and players/agents talk about what his projected role would be and NIL before he would make a visit to the school?

I have to think that the reason he hasn't found a home yet is either because he wants too much money, or is unwilling to accept the roles he has been offered.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I hope so also, but I feel sometimes his self awareness needs a reality check. I think that's why he would get called out about his rebounding. And not just by JAB, but I think Frischilla and either Corey Alexander or Jay Williams also.

We've had way more talented kids than Chris Bell not make it. Many of them.
He's not as special as he thinks he is.

 

[baggerbob]

We've had way more talented kids than Chris Bell not make it. Many of them.
He's not as special as he thinks he is.

Any coach that looks at his stats for the last 3 years, and sees that he is a nonexistent rebounder and passer. Then watches film on him and sees that all he does is shoot, doesn't put the ball on the floor.
Doesn't play defense, why would you want him on th our team?

 

[Hopkins16]

We've had way more talented kids than Chris Bell not make it. Many of them.
He's not as special as he thinks he is.

Or as I think? Thanks for not throwing me under the bus.

 

[Nicknack]

I have to think that the reason he hasn't found a home yet is because he wants too much money AND is unwilling to accept the roles he has been offered.

FIFY

 

[cali315phan]

Because he has NBA potential (my point of view which I know others don’t agree with), I think giving it another shot at a school like Miami is wise. He must do the work on the court, making an effort on defense, moving on offense to get his shot or to make the defense active thus freeing teammates, and off the court - how to improve his mental acuity.

I've seem a lot of bad takes on here. Saying Chris Bell has NBA potential might be the worst one yet. It's legit not even debatable.

 

[Orangefizz]

I've seem a lot of bad takes on here. Saying Chris Bell has NBA potential might be the worst one yet. It's legit not even debatable.

I agree with this take. He’s not nearly the shooter that Cole Swider is and Cole hasn’t found a permanent home yet