Men’s basketball player Keion Bell is no longer calling himself a Wave after deciding to transfer to Mizzou this summer. Bell gave a verbal commitment to the Tigers in June.
Coming out of high school, Bell was recruited by Miami (FL), Nevada, Pepperdine, San Diego State, San Francisco, Santa Clara and UNLV. He spent three years at Pepperdine where he averaged 18 points per game and impressed fans with his dunks.
Although Bell’s specific reasons for transferring are relatively unknown, tension between Bell and Pepperdine Head Coach Tom Asbury began at the end of the 2010-2011 season when Bell was suspended for multiple games.
According to “TigerExtra,” which provides coverage of MU sports, Bell said Asbury took away his starting spot after he struggled against Santa Clara. Bell was suspended soon after when he overslept and missed a study hall during a road trip to San Diego. According to Bell, the original suspension was to be for a week, but he decided he would rather sit out for the remainder of the season because of wrist and ankle injuries.
Bell was also considering a transfer to Texas A&M, but canceled his visit there after his trip to Mizzou resulted in a verbal commitment to play for the Tigers.
Bell will have to sit out next season due to NCAA transfer rules.