MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The transformation of West Virginia’s men’s basketball roster continued on Easter Sunday with an announcement from one-time St. Louis post player Jimmy Bell Jr. that he had committed to the Mountaineers.
Bell comes to West Virginia from Moberly Area Community College in Missouri, where he averaged 9.3 points and 9.1 rebounds for the Greyhounds in the 2021-2022 season. Bell made better than 59 percent of his shots, grabbed 146 offensive rebounds and had 52 blocks in his lone season at that level, while helping Moberly Area reach the Sweet 16 of the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament.
The 6-foot-10, 280-pound Bell played his first two college seasons at St. Louis. During his first campaign with the Billikens, Bell started in 30 of 31 appearances and averaged 3.8 points and 3.1 rebounds on 47 percent shooting.
The next season, Bell was a starter in five of 19 games and averaged 1.9 points and 1.8 rebounds over 8.8 minutes per contest.
Bell is originally from Saginaw, Michigan but spent his last two years of high school at Bella Vista College Preparatory School in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Bell announced his commitment to West Virginia on social media and chose the Mountaineers over finalists Sam Houston, Oakland and East Tennessee State. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
The addition of Bell leaves West Virginia with one remaining scholarship. Since the conclusion of a 16-17 season, the Mountaineers have added South Carolina transfer Erik Stevenson, Iowa transfer Joe Touissant and fellow junior college post player Mohamed Wague.