Familiarity leads Bell to South Carolina State‎

South Carolina State University Bulldogs have signed Polk State College 6-8/230 basketball center Presano Bell to a National Letter of Intent.

Cracker Barrel, a retail store and restaurant, is an institution in much of American, offering southern comfort food, rocking chairs for post-meal relaxation, and a checker’s table within the dining room for an added country feel. It’s more than just a place to eat and relax for Presano Bell. The former Thomas Edison star developed a bond with South Carolina assistant coach Dwight Evans, talking about why the restaurant chain is absent in New York, one of only nine states in American it doesn’t exit. Soon, the two realized, they were not only both from New York, but from Springfield Gardens, Queens, and raised just a few blocks away from one another.

“We hit it off,” said Bell, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound center who plans to major in nursing and become an anesthesiologist. “That made me feel like I could trust him. That’s the most important thing in a relationship. He got that right away.” As a result of their bond, in addition to the immediate playing time the Bulldogs could offer, Bell signed a National Letter of Intent to play at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) school recently. The decision ended a two-year journey for the physically imposing forward.

After helping Edison reach the PSAL Class AA semifinals in 2008, Bell landed at Snead State in Alabama. It was a culture shock, he said, although Bell made the best out of it. Following his one year there, he transferred to Polk Community College (Fla.) and averaged 11 points and 7 rebounds per game. His two JUCO years transformed Bell, as much as a player as a person. He improved academically in the classroom and defensively on the court, one of his shortcomings at Edison.

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