Oak Park-River Forest’s Bell picks Bradley

Perhaps one day in March, Ka’Darryl Bell will play a high school basketball game on the same court as his future college home.

The Oak Park-River Forest point guard made a verbal commitment Saturday night to play basketball next season at Bradley, which plays its home games at Carver Arena in Peoria.

To play a high school game there, Bell would have to guide the Huskies to a berth in the Class 4A state semifinals. It’s not such a fantasy for the favorites in the West Suburban Silver this upcoming season. With Bell and 6-foot-6 senior Gabe Levin, OPRF has a chance if everything goes right.

Bell made his college choice before leaving Bradley’s campus Saturday night while making an official visit. Bell chose the Braves over Iowa, Drake, Ohio and Eastern Kentucky.

“(Bradley) had the best facilities and with their coaching staff, there are players they are looking to come in with their young talent,” he said. “They are looking to rebuild.”

Bell said he was the first to commit from the Class of 2012 to new Bradley coach Geno Ford, who formerly led Kent State to a 68-37 record in three seasons. The first day of the official signing period is in November.

Bell, who averaged 15 points last season, also becomes one of the first major players from the Chicago area to join Bradley. The Braves currently have only two Chicago-area products — former Julian guard Walt Lemon Jr. and former Bolingbrook forward Devon Hodges — on its roster.

“Coach (Ford) said he definitely wanted to start recruiting Chicago,” Bell said. “He doesn’t understand why Chicago (is ignored). It’s a school in Illinois, and they don’t get Illinois guys.”

Bell, who would like to study communications, was impressed by Ford, who was hired March 27. Bradley watched Bell play with Lake Forest-based Full Package during the AAU season. Levin was a teammate with Bell during the AAU season. Levin has yet to make a commitment and is getting recruited by Division I and Division II schools.

“(Ford) is a down-to-earth guy,” Bell said. “He’s a straight shooter. He tells you what he wants, which is really cool.”

When Ford hired Willie Scott as an assistant coach, OPRF coach Matt Maloney contacted Scott, whom he knew as the coach at Malcom X College in Chicago. Maloney said Bradley started watching Bell over the summer and was eager to bring him in for a visit this month.

“It’s a tremendous fit for (Bell),” Maloney said. “They’re young, especially in the guard spot. He has an opportunity to come in and play right away. It’s a great college town. You always get good support from Peoria fans.”

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.