Sept. 24, 2010
The Nova Notebook, by director of media relations Mike Sheridan, introduces us to a newcomer who has confronted a setback in his first season as a member of the Wildcats.
It was a quiet afternoon in the first days of the fall semester. On the Davis Center men's practice court, strength coach Lon Record was putting the Villanova Men's Basketball team through a series of drills. Sweat poured off the bodies of each athlete.
Located a few feet away inside the weight room James Bell could only watch through a window while pedaling furiously on a stationary bicycle. As his teammates filtered back into the weight room to move to the next phase of their workout, each would acknowledge the freshman from Orlando verbally or with a fist pound.
It's a routine Bell - who also answers to his middle name Tahj - has come to know all too well since reporting pain in his lower legs after returning from a USA Basketball 18-and-Under tryout in June. That pain, tests would come to reveal, was coming from stress fractures in the tibia of both of his legs. When weeks of rest did not seem to be creating the relief doctors had hoped for, surgery became the next step.
On Sept. 8, Villanova Team Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Rob Good inserted metal rods into the tibia of Bell's right and left legs. Good said at the time that the concern was that without surgery, the fractures might become complete fractures, further complicating treatment. The surgery went well and after two weeks it's hard to tell from seeing Bell on campus that he has been dealing with such significant injuries.
Of course, a return to the kind of health that would allow him to resume displaying the electric athletic skills that helped make him a USA Today and Parade All-American at Florida's Montverde Academy is another matter entirely. As much as he would like to answer the question of when that will happen, he simply cannot at this stage of his recovery.
"I feel like I'm a quick healer and that I'll be ahead of schedule," he says. "But we just have to wait and see."
Bell understands that some are wondering if he will play at all this season. In his mind, that will be determined by how quickly he bounces back and is a decision that will be made in consultation with the coaching staff and physicians.
"In my mind, it's too soon to even start thinking about that," says Bell. "Coach (Jay) Wright and I have talked and the big thing he told me is that he wants me to be focused on my rehab and recovery."
It hasn't been the kind of start that any young athlete would prefer at the outset of his college experience. But Bell has been upbeat and stoic throughout and exudes a maturity far beyond his years.
"It's tough to sit out and watch your teammates," he acknowledges. "For me, though, I knew I couldn't do what I wanted to out on the court so it's best to get this taken care of."
In fact, this particular kind of injury is not new to Bell. The 6-5 guard had a stress fracture in his right leg as a junior at Montverde that appeared to have healed. However, he was bothered by soreness during his senior year in 2009-10 and wasn't quite sure why.
"I thought it was shin splints," he says.
He was able to play through that, though, and help Montverde become one of the elite prep squads in America with seven national TV appearances and a spot in the ESPN Rise tourney in April. But by the time he reached Colorado Springs for the USA Basketball tryouts it was becoming clear that his mobility and athletic skills were suffering.
"I really couldn't do what I wanted to out on the court," he says.
Upon returning to the summer session in late June, Bell was examined and the nature of the problem came to light. So he was mostly relegated to the stationary bike and other no-impact training before the decision to treat the injury surgically was made in early September.
Now, he's getting set to pursue in earnest his rehab plan. And no, he isn't worried about reclaiming the leaping skills that are on display in a handful of YouTube dunking clips.
"The doctors have said that when they heal my legs will probably be stronger than they were before," says Bell, who adds that the metal rods will remain in his legs even after his recovery is complete.
Clearly, Bell brought a measure of patience with him. Keep in mind this is an athlete who made his intention to attend Villanova clear in the summer between his sophomore and junior years. The fact that Bell has family roots in New Jersey didn't hurt but this was a young man who recognized quickly what he wanted in a college choice.
"It was perfect timing for me to do it," says Bell of his early call. "I liked the academics, the coaching staff, and the family atmosphere. It felt right."
One person in particular connected with the young athletic guard.
"Dwayne Anderson really impressed me," he says.
To those who have spent time around the program, it stands to reason those two would share a bond. Anderson is an oldest child with a maturity that earned his teammates respect before he ever saw much action on the court. Bell too exhibits a calm gravitas that could one day make him a team leader. In fact, his final point about his college choice sounds like a quote Anderson might have uttered during his career on the Main Line from 2006-09.
"What I saw in the people here," says Bell, "is the kind of man I want to become."
The adversity he has faced thus far is more than most have had to deal with. At a time of transition off the court, he is being asked to put his dream on hold while his body heals. It is a tough recipe for any elite athlete, let alone one adjusting to a new life as a college frosh.
"I like it here," he says. "It helps that I went to boarding school at Montverde. I know what it's like to live on a campus and adhere to a schedule."
Unfortunately, it appears Bell's Wildcat debut will be delayed. For how long is still a matter of conjecture. Yet the man himself is comfortable with what lies ahead and confident that his dreams remain intact.
If getting there means doing his best Lance Armstrong impersonation on the stationary bike, so be it.
Wildcats at the Waldorf
The countdown to the official start of the basketball season will kick into high gear for the Nova Nation on Oct. 13 in New York City at the famed Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Park Avenue. That night head coach Jay Wright and the 2010-11 Wildcats will be on hand for a special fundraiser to benefit the men's basketball program.
"We are so excited about this chance to gather with the Nova Nation to celebrate the start of a new season," said Wright. "This is a new event that directly benefits the basketball program while also giving us all the chance to share a great night together with our friends in the Nova Nation."
Proceeds for the night directly benefit Villanova Men's Basketball. This will be a rare opportunity to mingle with the basketball staff and team members ahead of the 2010-11 campaign.
The evening includes a reception from 6:30-7:30 followed by dinner from 7:30-9. Individual tickets are $300 and a table of eight can be purchased for $2,000. Reservations can be made by calling 610-519-8056. For additional information, please contact Senior Director of Advancement for Men's Basketball Steve Pinone (steve.pinone@villanova.edu).
