Former EB Standout Plays in All 30 Games for Tigers in 2014-15
PRINCETON, NJ–In recent years, the Ivy League has seen an increase in competition and enthusiasm when it comes to men’s basketball. Â The hiring of Tommy Amaker at Harvard has helped turn that program around. Â This past season, Yale and Columbia made inroads towards challenging Harvard for the league title and automatic NCAA bid. Â Princeton did as well, and with the likes of East Brunswick’s Amir Bell along with former Seton Hall Prep standout, Spencer Weisz, the Tigers are going to be a team to reckon with for the next several years.
The Tigers ended up third in the Ivy League with a 9-5 record in conference play, and finished 16-14 overall. Â Princeton did not play in any post-season tournaments. Â Bell was a bright spot for Princeton though. Â The former East Brunswick High School boys basketball standout, played in and started in all 30 games for the Tigers. Â Not bad for a freshman. Â Bell averaged just under 29 minutes, 8.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while maintaing a 1.6 assist to turnover ratio.
Bell connected on 89 of 180 shots from the floor including 13 of 45 from beyond the arc while also making 74 of 117 from the charity stripe. Â He ranked first on Princeton in games started, tied for 1st in games played, 3rd in minutes, ranked 4th in scoring, 4th in rebounding, 2nd in assists, 4th in steals, 3rd in blocks, and 3rd in FG percentage. Â He had at least a share of game highs in assists 14 times, steals 6 times, blocked shots 4 times, twice for rebounding, and scoring once this season.
Bell enjoyed a season high of 17 points twice this season. Â The first time was in a game against the University of San Diego on November 30th, and versus Harvard on January 30th. Â He scored in double figures twice this past season. Â He was selected Ivy League Rookie of the Week for the week of December 1st. Â Bell joins a good list of former GMC players to go on and play in the Ivy League including: Â Greg Kuchinski (St. Joseph’s), Darren Smith (South Plainfield), Zach Rosen (Colonia), and Steve Rennard (St. Joseph’s), who all played at Penn. Â Bell also joins Weisz and former Plainfield standout, Justin Sears as former NJ high school basketball standouts contributing to solid teams in the Ivy League.