BELL SELLS
Green Bay transfer takes control in opener, rings in new season for Lewis
Trevian Bell played in 95 games for Green Bay at the NCAA Division I level, taking on the likes of Michigan State, Wisconsin, Oregon and Missouri.
After transferring to Division II Lewis, the senior guard/forward expects all of that experience to give him a big edge.
“I think it’s going to help me a lot,” he said. “I feel like there’s no situation I haven’t been in. I’ve played in some big games in some great arenas and I’ve had some great teammates.
“I’ve been teammates with guys who are playing professionally overseas. I’ve seen what it takes to get to that level, and I’m ready to bring that mentality to Lewis.”
Bell showed what kind of an impact he is capable of making right away Friday night in the season opener, scoring 21 points for the Flyers in an 86-65 loss to Truman State.
“Wewere all excited to get out there, and maybe we were a little too excited the first couple minutes,” Bell said. “We got settled in and started hitting some shots, moving the ball better.
“It was disappointing to lose, but we did some very good things for the first game of the season.”
Bell, a Joliet native and Joliet West graduate, added eight points and 10 rebounds Sunday as the Flyers picked up their first win of the year, beating Quincy 77-70.
Bell was a steady contributor off the bench in all three of his seasons at Green Bay. He averaged6.1 points and 3.1 rebounds last season, hitting double figures in scoring seven times.
Hewanted a chance to go somewhere he could make a bigger impact, though.
“I was in the transfer portal for a couple weeks and my recruitment was kind of slow,” he said. “I didn’t put my head down or anything, though.
“My old coach from Joliet West told me Lewis would be interested in having me, so I started talking to coach (Scott) Trost and building that relationship, and the decision was easy.”
Bell is happy to be playing closer tohome, although the coronavirus pandemic has dimmed some of his homecoming excitement.
“It’s unfortunate that nobody can come to the games right now,” he said. “But it’s definitely good to be able to go home and seemy family.”
It also has been a challenge for Bell and his teammates to get used to playing together.
Due to players having to quarantine because of positive COVID-19 tests or contact tracing, Trost said the Flyers had enough to practice five-on-five only three times during the preseason.
“We got that first game in,” Bell said. “And now we just have to work on communicating better and defending better.”
Trost is excited about Bell immediately bolstering the Flyers’ lineup as well as his potential to develop into an even better player.
“‘Tre’ came here because hewants to put up shots and play on the perimeter some,” Trost said. “We also want towork with him to put the ball on the floor and drive, expand his game.
“He’s a hardworker andhe’s going to be a really good player for us.”
Bell hopes to help the Flyers in a variety ofways.
“Iwant to bring a lot of versatility on both sides of the ball,” he said. “Being able to guard multiple positions is really important. Offensively, Iwant to be able to make plays, hit big shots and be a leader.”