Junction City junior defensive end-tight end Jamario Bell doesn’t have much downtime after also playing basketball and throwing the shot put and discus in track and field.
“You really don’t get a break,” he said. “You start off in football season from the first game to the playoffs and then you go right into basketball. Right after basketball you get ready for track and then after track it’s AAU. It’s very hard but it’s rewarding at the end but it’s rewarding when you win championships.”
Bell, 6-6, 225, 4.7 seconds in the 40 yard dash, helped the Dragons win last year’s Class 2A title in football and recently added his second AAU National Championship in basketball with the Arkansas Wings. During the Wings’ title run of last year, he learned from Arkansas freshman Bobby Portis and Moses Kingsley.
“This year I kind of showed the other guys you need to do little things,” said Bell of the Wings. “Like go ice your knee and make sure your knees are in good shape.”
Bell, who has a scholarship offer from Arkansas in football, was a member of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Super Sophomore team after recording 81 tackles, including 12 for loss, and 5 sacks.
Playing football and basketball on the next level is on Bell’s mind.
“It’s still kind of up in the air,” Bell said. “I kind do want to play both sports but I’m going to see how everything is going to work out. It’s really up to the college that I pick if they will let me play two sports.”
Bell, who also had 15 receptions for 249 yards and 4 touchdowns last year, visited the Hogs in June with his mother while attending Arkansas’ prospect camp. He plans to a return trip the 16th and 17th.
His athleticism is on the elite level for someone of his size and that’s without seeing much time in the weight room because of his busy schedule.
“I really don’t get a lot of weight training but when I do get into the weight room I hit it really hard,” Bell said. “ So it kind of makes up for the lost time I really try to kill myself when I’m in the weight room so I kind of keep up with the strength of the other guys.”
Alabama, Tennessee and Auburn are also pursuing Bell.
“They said they want me to come out to the campus and just look at the campus and maybe they’ll offer me after they get to know me better and get to know my mom,” he said.
Bell doesn’t mention a certain time frame for a decision.
“Right now, I’m really kind of taking it easy,” Bell said.
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