When you’re a standout performer in multiple sports, choosing which one to pursue in college can be a rather difficult question to answer.
For Parkers Chapel’s Amari Bell, who shined in football and basketball, the answer was the latter, as the Trojans’ forward recently signed with South Arkansas Community College.
“Football wasn’t coming into my hands, so I feel like it was meant to be,” Bell said. “Coach Nate Davis came to talk to me. I was thinking about it for about two months now, so I had to make my decision real soon. I contacted them and asked when I could sign, so that’s what I’m going to be doing for the next two years.”
Bell, who averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds while shooting 48 percent from the floor for the Trojans last season, added that he is happy to get the chance to play in front of local fans.
“It’s the first year, so hopefully we’ll have a big crowd,” Bell said. “I’m pretty sure fans of El Dorado or just the community will come and watch us play.”
Bell attended the tryouts held at Wildcat Arena at the end of April, and the experience was rather unique.
“It was stressful,” Bell said. “You had to play better than you usually do. Coming into the tryouts, I was kind of nervous. There was a lot of talent there. I just left it all on the floor.”
When asked if there was any aspect of his game he wanted to work on over the summer, Bell said it was his shooting.
“I need to work on my shooting. I’m really not comfortable with my shot,” Bell said. “It’s just one of those things where you can’t take nights off. You’ve got to just keep working no matter if people are watching you or not. The work that you put in is what you will get out of it.”
Although his career at Parkers Chapel may be over, Bell said he has fond memories of his time there, and he is ready for the next challenge.
“Most definitely. I feel like I’ve been ready for a while,” Bell said. “I’m going to miss the environment at PC, but you can’t look back on what you already did.”