'12 IL PF T.J. Bell (8/16/2011)

[BlueSycamore]

Is this a record ? Eight pages so far for our latest verballed recruit. No doubt we Sycamore fans have a lot of interest and it looks like a future Sycamore with a lot of untapped potential coming on board.

GO SYCAMORES!
Welcome T.J.

 

[sycamorebacker]

Back to the subject and off of the birthing discussion......

As we talk about all the wings I only saw mention of K Smith once....is he for sure in the 12-13season?
Future wings- a wing to me is between a center and a SG

Kitchel ?
Koang
Gant
Arop
Burnett
R Smith
K Smith
Bell
RJ

Who of these can guard the 3? That would be the key, if we are calling kitchel a forward then we are playing 2 PF and one 3.

In my opinion, with some speculation by seeing videos:

Remove from the list: Kitchell (5), RJ (4-5), Gant (4-5)

Koang (4 - can defend the 3)
Arop (3-4)
K Smith (3)
R Smith (3 or Renn-type 4)
Bell (unknown)
Burnett (3 or Renn-type 4)

As long as they are healthy, I'm expecting Gant, RJ and Kitchell to get most of the 4-5 minutes.

If any on the list are good enough to bump one of them, that will be an incredibily good thing for the team and we will have depth at the 4-5 that we have never had. Remember, a good 4 that is playing 5 is better than most of the 5's that we have had. Some of the young ones on here probably don't remember who our center was in the Green/Renn/Menser years.

Many of us were fans during many lean years when we had under-sized centers that couldn't post up or make a put-back. Remember Johnson from Pike. I don't know if he posted up, caught the ball, and scored one time in 4 years. I'm so excited!

 

[SycamoreBlue3209]

Kante?? He is pretty easy to remember. lol.

 

[Bluethunder]

It was Giesen before he went down with a knee injury during the game against bloomington, and I'm not sure he was exactly a TRUE center. Then Avery took over most of the work in the middle and he was not a TRUE center either.

 

[sycamorebacker]

Kante?? He is pretty easy to remember. lol.

You're right. I was thinking of Giesen. Kante is an example of an good, under-sized center. When we played him at 4, I don't think he did as well.

 

[Callmedoc]

In my opinion, with some speculation by seeing videos:

Remove from the list: Kitchell (5), RJ (4-5), Gant (4-5)

Koang (4 - can defend the 3)
Arop (3-4)
K Smith (3)
R Smith (3 or Renn-type 4)
Bell (unknown)
Burnett (3 or Renn-type 4)

As long as they are healthy, I'm expecting Gant, RJ and Kitchell to get most of the 4-5 minutes.

If any on the list are good enough to bump one of them, that will be an incredibily good thing for the team and we will have depth at the 4-5 that we have never had. Remember, a good 4 that is playing 5 is better than most of the 5's that we have had. Some of the young ones on here probably don't remember who our center was in the Green/Renn/Menser years.

Many of us were fans during many lean years when we had under-sized centers that couldn't post up or make a put-back. Remember Johnson from Pike. I don't know if he posted up, caught the ball, and scored one time in 4 years. I'm so excited!

I think Burnett will play the 2 3 from what he looks like...

 

[sycamorebacker]

I think Burnett will play the 2 3 from what he looks like...

Could be. I was wondering, at 225 lb. if he had the quickness for a guard and we usually don't have any problem filling that position with someone that can shoot, handle, pass or drive.

(and I'm a big fan of SM)

 

[Callmedoc]

Could be. I was wondering, at 225 lb. if he had the quickness for a guard and we usually don't have any problem filling that position with someone that can shoot, handle, pass or drive.

(and I'm a big fan of SM)

I do think he more naturally fits as a three that can play 2 but he has the quickness of a guard according to YouTube.

 

[snow]

We live a couple of houses from T.J. in Charleston. My son and T.J. were high school teammates. We wish T.J. the very best at Indiana State. The sycamores are getting a terrific basketball player and an even better young man. His potential is unlimited. It feels like his dunks could nearly bring the roof of Baker gym down. People might say he doesn't have the eye of the tiger yet, but he is very young in his class and nobody challenges him in the Apollo conference. The only down thing I might say about T.J. is that he might be too unselfish. In my opinion he is the best talent and has the most potential to come out of the Apollo in a long time. That includes Meyers Leonard at Illinois.

 

[TreeTop]

We live a couple of houses from T.J. in Charleston. My son and T.J. were high school teammates. We wish T.J. the very best at Indiana State. The sycamores are getting a terrific basketball player and an even better young man. His potential is unlimited. It feels like his dunks could nearly bring the roof of Baker gym down. People might say he doesn't have the eye of the tiger yet, but he is very young in his class and nobody challenges him in the Apollo conference. The only down thing I might say about T.J. is that he might be too unselfish. In my opinion he is the best talent and has the most potential to come out of the Apollo in a long time. That includes Meyers Leonard at Illinois.

Thank you Snow! Great information!

 

[SycamoreFan317]

Everything I am reading is suggesting that T J will probably red shirt. The fact he is young and needs to hit the weight room or in simple terms it gives him time to mature.

Anybody else notice that SSOM did not come up with 3X's a red shirt did not work out for ISU or anybody else?

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Everything I am reading is suggesting that T J will probably red shirt. The fact he is young and needs to hit the weight room or in simple terms it gives him time to mature.

Anybody else notice that SSOM did not come up with 3X's a red shirt did not work out for ISU or anybody else?

Explain 3X's - I'm not sure what you're getting at? I think I was agreeing with you on this, but Lord knows anything can be twisted.

Besides, if you haven't figured it out yet half of this forum has me on it's block list. I'm absolutely delighted to see that you haven't taken that same action! Totally having some fun with you - maybe...

 

[region rat]

We live a couple of houses from T.J. in Charleston. My son and T.J. were high school teammates. We wish T.J. the very best at Indiana State. The sycamores are getting a terrific basketball player and an even better young man. His potential is unlimited. It feels like his dunks could nearly bring the roof of Baker gym down. People might say he doesn't have the eye of the tiger yet, but he is very young in his class and nobody challenges him in the Apollo conference. The only down thing I might say about T.J. is that he might be too unselfish. In my opinion he is the best talent and has the most potential to come out of the Apollo in a long time. That includes Meyers Leonard at Illinois.

That's saying something as a comparison to Leonard.

 

[BrokerZ]

I'm very excited for T.J.'s potential. He is exactly the kind of player ISU should be targeting, especially with an early verbal committment. I also like that he said he would not entertain any other schools no matter what happens in his senior season. With what appears to be so much untapped potential, a big senior season could make the bigger schools come calling. Good to get this kid committed now.

If all reports are true that he's young for his class and hasn't really ever been in a weight room, he's a for-sure redshirt candidate. It would give him some more time to hone his skills and get ready for D1 competition. It would also help spread out the graduation classes a little, though I know if he's ready to play that won't be a factor.

Although I know very little about this guy, just the profile and what I've read are telling me that we got a definite steal. Highly-recruited early, fell off the map a little, and poised for a breakout senior year...awesome!

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Moved to player profiles. Signed LOI today.

 

[TreeTop]

Moved to player profiles. Signed LOI today.

Yes, love that TJ is officially committed to STATE. The copy below is from GoSycamores.com and I think it's safe to say he won't be in the Red Shirt conversation next year.

"The Sycamores will lose Dwayne Lathan, Jordan Printy, Carl Richard and Myles Walker after the 2011-12 season due to graduation and coach Lansing expects Bell to step in and compete for playing time right away.

'TJ will join a talented team next year that loses four very important players and tremendous people from our current squad,' Lansing said. 'Losing Myles and Carl will leave a void that he can help fill. He will have to compete to keep up with our hard working group.'"

 

[BlueHeart]

TJ Bell

He's playing tonight at Paris High School, (Paris, IL). We're heading over to see him in action. Great gym at Paris, great atmosphere...

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Future Sycamore TJ Bell

Here at Paris to watch TJ for the first time in person will provide a report later on.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Got a chance to take a look at Bell in person for the first time tonight vs. Paris. It was a great game as it went to double OT with Charleston winning 73-72 - the lead changed hands several times in overtime. Bell picked up his 4th foul with 5 minutes to go in the 4th quarter. He played the last 3 min of the 4th and 7 min in OT without picking up his 5th foul but was noticeably less effective - as you would figure. He finally did pick up his 5th foul on a questionable over the back call on his own missed put back with under 1 min. left in the second OT. Even at that he ends up with "roughly" (without the assist of a box score) 17 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. I will say this, watching Charleston is like watching Terre Haute North in that they don't make Bell a focal point in the O - he doesn't touch the ball as much as you would expect.

Put it like this, your not going to be the tallest and most talented player on the floor and go on the road to Paris (be an African American) and get a lot of calls. Yeah I said it.


Pros:

- He's listed at 6'7, 195 lbs. by 2014 which will be his red shirt freshman year the kid is going to be at least 6'9 220. He's going to grow into his body, he has really long arms and just by the way he moves and his mannerisms reminds you of a young/smaller Greg Oden - although he has a different game than Oden. He's got really long arms and really big hands.

- Handles the ball well, he dribbled the ball down for Charleston several times and even showed the ability to make a cross over and pull up. I mean he would even face up and give you a little between the legs cross over to get a step and pull up.

- Passes the ball - sees the floor well. He made several passes against the press that were nice. Although he has the ability to see over most high schoolers because of his length he still showed the ability to pass out of a double team.

- Smooth J, made a 3 point and a couple baseline jump shots. He really shoots the ball pretty well. He shows flashes with that jump shot of being very difficult to guard ala former Purdue All American and Boston Celtic Rookie, JaJuan Johnson (6'10, 220).

- Good foot work, made a couple impressive spin moves on the baseline for buckets. He's really got some skill around the basket.

Cons:

- Very raw, looks like Lansing and Co. are banking on him growing to 6'9 or taller and are going to work with him. He has a huge upside but will likely red shirt - he wouldn't be able to play for the Sycamores this season.

- Soft, he really doesn't like to go inside and bang. He likes to play away from the basket and face up. Kind of reminds you of a Jayson Wells who was 6'7 195 and could put the ball on the floor and shoot the 3. That said, Bell is going to grow and I think his game/role will probably change as he grows.

- Doesn't seem to jump very well and I think it has something to do with growing into his body. I have no idea (I'm just 5"11), but he really moves around the floor like a 7 footer. He just kind of takes long strides and doesn't really sprint up and down the floor.

- Free throw shooting, he was something like 5 of 10 or 3 of 8 from the line tonight. He has a good looking stroke, just short armed a few of them and it wasn't really consistent. I think it's something that the coaches will be able to work with him on.

- Very little emption - some would chalk this up as a pro and some as neither. It probably is a good thing in a close game and a hostel environment. I watched Greg Oden's brother get tossed out of a JV game in high school at Terre Haute South. This kid is about as level headed and unemotional as you will find. He is just kind of in his own little world. I mean a couple times he grabbed the ball after a missed steal and gave it a big ole slap with his HUGE claws for hands.

That's about the best I can give you on him. Do I think he's going to be a good player at State? Hard to tell in just one game - like I said, he's got a big up-side but he's pretty raw and going to need some work. You don't want to discourage the kid, but he's just not D1 ready. I think he's also pretty young for his grade and again gives me reason to believe that he will grow. Remember that Jake Odum grew like 4 inches before his redshirt Freshman year. If Bell grows 4 more inches he's 7'1 and long.... That could be possible.


Just keep in mind this is my first look at the kid and he was in big foul trouble much of the night. Its probably a fair review, but to give a confident review I'd like to see him play 3 or 4 times. Again, I don't think Charleston gives him the ball in a position to do much with it.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

So I compared him to 3 players in this thread, he's a hybrid between former Sycamore Jayson Wells in that he handles the ball pretty well and he showed the ability to step out and shoot the ball, plus as a high schooler he's the same size as Wells.

Former Boiler, B10 DPY and POY JaJuan Johnson in that he looks like he could grown to be the same size as Johnson who had the ability to step away from the basket and knock down a mid range bucket, but could also play with his back to the basket - no where near as explosive as Johnson and will never be the shot blocker that Johnson was.

Former Buckeye and #1 NBA Pick Greg Oden in that when he's sitting on the bench he sits like him, he moves around like Oden did in high school and college and he has some of the same mannerisms as Oden in that he's chill as all get out.

So hopefully this helps you guys! When I compare him to these guys I'm just trying to give you a visual, not putting ANY expectations on him - so don't get that idea.