At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, over one hundred players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III or NAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked and underrated, and today's edition will highlight Trevon Bell of Believe Academy and Team Wall SE.
The appeal should be fairly obvious for a prospect like Bell, who possesses all the tools in terms of size, skill, and athleticism to fit within any collection of players. He's smart and seems to offer natural leadership, both on and off the court, for all types of teams. Despite some unorthodox mechanics, Bell is a capable shooter from midrange and beyond the arc. He does a great job of initiating offense or operating as the team's primary creator, given his vision, unselfishness, and overall willingness to make the right play. Bell is also a quality athlete and useful all-around defensive player with the ability to switch across multiple positions. He forces turnovers at a reliable rate and understands how to make his presence felt as a rebounder.
Last spring, we had Bell at our Phenom 150 Camp, where we stated: 'He's a long, wiry wing prospect with great feel, athleticism, and a blossoming offensive skillset. Bell scored the ball very efficiently from all three levels and showcased an improving three-point stroke. He caused an abundance of problems with his defensive presence, as he reliably forced turnovers and pushed transition play whenever possible. Bell handled the ball well, made precise passes to open teammates, and played above the rim whenever possible. Next in his development process is working on his consistency from beyond the arc, which has continually improved, but will be important to sustain going forward. Coach Gray on Bell: 'Trevon has a game that will translate at the next level. He's a complete player that brings it on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he can create and get to any shot he wants. He can easily create for others at any point from any situation. Trevon has elite athleticism and finished above the rim and over defenders. College coaches should give this kid a hard look.' Bell averaged 17.3 PPG at camp, secured the Mr. Defense award, and proved that he is a definite college-level prospect.'
Add the consistency, athleticism, and enticing skillset to an upstanding young man with a 3.2 GPA and you have a prospect that deserves to have action within his recruitment. Bell is posting nightly averages of 17 PPG, 3 RPG, and 3 APG. He's a quality person to have on the team and in the locker room, as his team-first approach and willingness to win seem to shine through in every context or setting. Bell has proven to have all the tools necessary to succeed at the next level and should ultimately start seeing an uptick in his recruitment over the coming months.
