In the 25 years of Big East basketball at Boston College, Troy Bell was its greatest player--with a style of consistent play that distinguished him among the league's best from the moment he arrived at the Heights until graduation day.

While many former Eagle greats were from the Northeast, Bell's path was a little different. He grew up in the Minneapolis suburb of Richfield, where despite averaging 27 points a game at Academy of Holy Angels HS and finishing second in the state in scoring as a junior, he was not heavily recruited, receiving interest from Xavier and Tennessee but few others.

"I kind of wanted to go to the University of Minnesota," said Bell in 2000. "I live only about 10 minutes from the school, but they never really showed much of an interest."

BC coach Al Skinner did show interest, however, and signed him in the November 1998 early signing period. As a freshman, the Eagles weren't very good, but Bell was. In a season where the Eagles lost 11 straight in the Big East en route to an 11-19 season, Bell was the unquestioned bright spot on a young BC team. Bell set a BC freshman record with an 18 point average; his 20.1 average conference play set a Big East record for freshman scoring, previously held by Allen Iverson (1994-95). Bell was named the Big East Rookie of the Year but bigger things were in store in 2000-01.

It is an underrated story in Big East annals, particularly in light of the Eagles' cowardly departure to the Atlantic Coast Conference, but the 2000-01 Boston College season was remarkable, becoming the only Big East team ever to go from last place to a first place finish and a Big East title in the following season. Troy Bell led the way from start to finish, helping the eagles win their first 11 games of the season and earning BC its first Associated press Top 25 ranking in four seasons. By Big East play, no one was doubting Bell in the backcourt. Highlights included a 28 point, seven assists, and zero turnover game in 40 minutes of play versus Villanova, and by month's end the Eagles were 18-2 and in the Top 10 for the first time since 1967. BC continued the momentum in February, earning the Eagles a regular season title for the first time since 1983. Bell scored 58 points in three games as the Eagles won its second and final Big East tournament title in 2001, during a week where he was named All-Big East, the Big East Player of the Year, and the Tournament MVP. Despite a second round exit in the NCAA's, the Eagles finished 27-5 and a #7 ranking.

Bell's junior year was slowed by a knee injury in the 2001-02 preseason but he returned in time to start all 32 games for the Eagles, leading BC in scoring with a 21.6 points average. Season highlights include a career high 34 versus UMass that was broken a week later with a 42 point game in a win over Iowa State, setting a Conte Forum scoring record. Bell returned to the All-Big East team list at season's end as the Eagles returned to the NCAA tournament with a 20-11 record, but lost in the first round to Texas.

A model of consistency, the 2002-03 season may have been Bell's best. Coming off a rocky non-conference start, the Eagles were anything but prepared for a rough Big East slate. After a pair of late January losses to Villanova and Notre Dame that sank the BC record to 8-8, Bell took over on the court and on the stat sheet. A 27 point game by Bell led BC to a hard fought win at Virginia Tech, followed by 26 as the Eagles upset #14 UConn in Storrs. He followed it up with 29 (including the game winning three) over St. John's, 27 versus Rutgers, and 33 a week later as Bell set the school's career scoring mark in a win over Providence. It was his 12th career game of 30 or more points, and he wasn't done yet.

By mid-February Bell was all but unstoppable: 34 versus Miami, 33 versus St. John's, and 32 versus Miami. Bell's signature game followed three days later in a 38 point effort in a 92-84 win over Villanova that saw him surpass Bill Bradley and Elgin Baylor on the NCAA scoring list. "He's the best player in the nation," said freshman Craig Smith, who himself had 21 points and 12 rebounds in the game. And in a season where Carmelo Anthony led the Syracuse Orangemen to its first NCAA title, it was Troy Bell who was named Big East Player of the Year a second time for a remarkable turnaround for the Eagles and became only the fifth Big East player ever so awarded, joining Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin, Troy Murphy, and Richard Hamilton. His season average of 27.8 points in 2002-03 remains a conference record.

Troy Bell graduated in 2003 in singular company amongst BC's basketball greats. The only consensus All-American (second team) in school history, Bell left as the school's all time leading scorer and its only three time All-Big East selection. As Sports Illustrated noted, Bell "became a pioneer for what could be described as the glory years for BC basketball."

Bell's career in the NBA was a brief one. Drafted in the first round of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, his rights were traded that evening to the Memphis Grizzlies, where he played just six games. Following an off-season injury he was cut and spent much of the next 10 years in the European leagues.