Georgia Bulldog signee Jeremy Bell steals show at All-Star Weekend

ALBANY — Clinch County senior Jeremy Bell, who has signed to play wide receiver for the Georgia Bulldogs after high school, stole the show at Albany’s All-Star Weekend on Saturday night by winning the MVP award and stunning the crowd by winning the slam dunk contest at halftime.

The 6-foot, 175-pound Bell is the defending state champion in the 400-meter dash, a three-star wide receiver in football, plays tennis and has scored more than 1,000 points in his high school basketball career. He led Clinch County to a 19-6 record and into the Elite Eight of the state basketball tournament. Bell led the dark jersey team, including Mitchell County stars Landen Quimbley, Jaquavian Williams, Zilon Hawkins and Calhoun County all-state guard Jasiyah Suber. Bell and the dark jersey team came from behind in the second half to win the game 127-118.

However, it was halftime when he stole the show.

The slam dunk contest included three competitors — Westover’s Traevion Wheeler, Mitchell County’s Jaquavian Williams and Bell.

Williams and Bell earned perfect scores for their first-round dunks, while Wheeler got nines.

Williams lined up teammates Quimbley and Hawkins in front of the goal and jumped over the boys to slam home another near-perfect dunk.

Bell followed by lining up 6-foot-8 Wheeler and Valdosta big man Israel Jenrette, who stands 6 feet, 11 inches tall. Bell missed his first attempt, but on the second attempt, he flew over Wheeler and Jenrette for a perfect slam dunk that sent the crowd into a frenzy and Bell was swarmed by fans on the court.

Also during halftime, Dooly County’s Jalen Hall won the three-point shooting contest.

The game featured many local stars who had big moments, including Dougherty’s Jai’on Burns, who drilled three consecutive three-pointers in the second half and had the defensive task of guarding Bell to keep the white jersey team close. Westover’s Wheeler had huge moments, as did teammate Anthony Milton. Monroe’s Zacorey Peterson shined brightly in the first half with several big shots, and teammate Jaquan Maddox battled the big guys inside the paint and drilled two three-pointers beyond the arch. Dougherty’s Markelle Jones and Terrell County’s Keavonte Anderson were also on the white jersey team.

In the girls’ game, the white jersey team won big, 60-26. Tift County’s Faith Hallman took home the MVP award, and Dublin’s Tahara Diallo won the three-point contest.

There were no Albany girls in the senior All-Star game, but those from the area included Pelham’s Truth Wimberly, and a trio from Terrell County — Tadreuna Rogers, Jamariana Smith and Ciara Harvey.

By Joe Whitfield
Sports EditorJoeWhitfield[email protected]
By Joe Whitfield
Sports EditorJoeWhitfield[email protected]