Desmond Bell charges up court during a conditioning drill. (John Fisken photos)
Bell prepares to drive while being defended by Ethan Spark.
Desmond Bell is a true gym rat.
“I love just being on the court,” he said. “I love the competitive drive to win when on the court.”
The Coupeville High School junior, who transferred from Oak Harbor at the start of the school year, has been playing basketball since age five.
He first picked up the sport when his dad started a junior league in California.
In the 11 years since then, his love for the game has only grown.
A versatile player who can swing between positions, playing everything from point guard to power forward, Bell frequently charges into the fray.
“I’d like to say my strengths in basketball are my attacking the rim and defense,” Bell said. “The area I would like to work on is my jump shot. It has become very weak.”
A fan of hip hop and Will Smith films, he hopes to also play football for CHS next year.
For now, though, he’s concentrating on hoops and making an immediate impact when he takes the floor for the Wolves.
“My goals for this season are to help the team have a winning record and to record at least three double doubles,” Bell said.
While he’s still fairly new to the school, Bell already knew some of his new teammates prior to coming to Coupeville.
Bell, twins Dante and DeAndre Mitchell, who played for the Wolves as sophomores last season, and fellow transfer Risen Johnson are all friends.
“The people that impacted the person I am today are my friends,” Bell said. “I jumped from Oak Harbor to be with my best friends and play basketball.”
Coupeville Sports 