He was here on a visit the same time a K2 so he has met most if not all already. Honestly, people shouldn't be surprised how long this is taking. Hason lived in Mass and it took what felt like forever to get all his paperwork down to get him back on campus from Barbados. JP only came(and left) so quick because he has dual citizenship.
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Players Michael Belle is a VCU Ram!
- Thread starter WillWeaverRVA
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MobileMunchies
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WillWeaverRVA
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The players sure didn't take any time taking advantage of the NCAA lifting number restrictions! Hopefully #8 is great.
MobileMunchies
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So I asked a friend and he thinks so, isn't this the first VCU jersey number ever issued (either temp or not) that is outside the 0-5? Also, this friend is excited as the number 8 is his lucky #!
WillWeaverRVA
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Yup, the original rule went into effect in the 1950s so any player getting a jersey number outside of the original allowable range is getting the very first instance of that number in school history.
MobileMunchies
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https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/no-stone-unturned-2023-the-wings
Michael Belle, 6’7”, VCU, Freshman
(All statistics from the LNB Espoirs League)2022-2023 Season Stats: 17.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 3.2 TOV, 2.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG
2022-2023 Shooting Splits: 56.3/45.5/62.4
Signature Performance: vs. Espoirs Le Portel. 22 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals. 10-11 FG, 1-1 3FG, 1-2 FT.
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
-N/A
Background
An England native, Michael Belle began playing basketball at 13 years old. He competed for Great Britain during the 2019 U16 Euro Championships, averaging 11.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, and 1.6 SPG. He appeared on Great Britain’s senior national team during the 2021 FIBA European World Cup qualifiers. In 2019, he began to play for Espoirs Strasbourg. The Espoirs league is a 21-and-under French pro league that sits under the LNB umbrella (France’s premier basketball association), and Espoirs Strasbourg is a feeder program for Strasbourg IG (obviously). Over four seasons, he earned increased playing time and a larger role. In his most recent season, he posted numbers that were in a similar vicinity to Bilal Coulibaly’s production in that same league. That said, Coulibaly is seven months younger and also managed to carve out a significant role for his team’s highest-level squad, whereas Belle did not. In May, Belle announced that he had committed to VCU to play college basketball. He will have four years of eligibility.
What’s Good
Michael Belle is a big wing athlete who moves like a pro on both ends of the floor. At his best, he looked like a man amongst boys in the Espoirs league. It shows up most prominently on the defensive end of the floor. He’s a mobile, active defender. If he has to chase a player around off-ball screens, he can do it. At the point of attack, he can keep his man out of the paint and poke the ball loose with his fast hands. When it’s time to contest a shot, he gets off the floor quickly. Rotationally, he’s outstanding. His closeouts are potent but balanced, covering ground in a hurry with long strides and ready to pop back into his stance if a player tries to blow past him. He knows where to go and he has the ability to get there in a flash. Belle’s rim protection instincts are potent for a wing, which is a skill that I’ve placed an increasing level of value on as offenses become more sophisticated and NBA floors more spaced. His motor doesn’t shut off, and he’s as competitive as it gets on the glass. The icing on the cake is that he has the offensive tools to grab and go. Between his rebounding and defensive playmaking (3.4 STL% and 1.3 BLK% in Espoirs play last season), he can end the other team’s possession and turn it into offense.
Belle is a nightmare in transition thanks to his speed, length, and passing chops. Those tools help in the halfcourt as well. His vision is rock solid and he’s comfortable making more complex decisions. He can make a quick swing pass with zip and intent or thread the needle with a pocket pass out of a ball screen when the situation calls for it. While he can dribble a little too high at times (a common issue for players his size at that age and not a major concern), Belle knows how to attack and take easy driving lanes to the basket. Even when there isn’t a simple path to the cup, Belle can make himself skinny to dice through the lane. He’s tremendous at the basket and loves contact, which enabled him to get to the free-throw line almost five times per game last season. Even while “playing up” for Strasbourg IG, he wasn’t fearful of opponents when he got into the restricted area. Belle is ambidextrous as a finisher, further accentuating the threat he poses on the interior.
His off-ball activity is good, too. He’s not a “stand around and wait for the ball” kind of guy. Belle moves, cuts, and screens. His timing and instincts help him get clean looks inside if his man falls asleep. The rebounding comes into play on this end, too. 2.7 of Belle’s 9.0 rebounds per game came on the offensive glass. He’s ready to crash and disrupt, snaking around defenders to get his hands on the rock. Even without the ball in his hands, teams still need to concentrate on keeping him out of the paint.
What Needs Improvement
Though Belle shot 45.5% from distance last season, the jump shot still scares me a little bit. He only took a hair over two attempts per game this past year. In his prior two seasons, he shot 21.1% and 25% from deep, and he’s never been above 70% from the free throw line. My biggest concern comes from his mechanics, which can vary significantly from attempt to attempt. Sometimes he’ll drift to one side when he jumps, sometimes his guide hand is involved to the point that it looks like he’s shooting with two hands, and sometimes he won’t follow through all the way. When playing with Strasbourg IG, he subsisted almost entirely on cuts, which is a tough way to live at a higher level. The jumper is the major swing skill here. Belle could also benefit from playing with more pace. He doesn’t change speeds much, often flying around as fast as he can, leading to mistakes and turnovers when he can’t get to his spots.
Conclusion
Michael Belle is a fascinating prospect, but also one of the more difficult projections to make for this coming cycle. On paper, there’s a lot to love—he’s a pro from an athleticism and size standpoint, makes a ton of plays on defense, has some intriguing playmaking chops, and he hit his threes last season. Conversely, he can be a little too wild at times, and the shooting variance (from both a form and results standpoint) is concerning.
Then, add in the change in context. He’ll go from being a leading option for his Espoirs team to joining a talented VCU squad that was largely pieced together via the transfer portal. Guard Max Shulga (stay tuned to this series for more on him later) and forward Sean Bairstow followed the team’s new coach, Ryan Odom, from Utah State. Both are productive, proven, and reliable. Joseph Bamisile has posted big numbers in the Atlantic-10 before and could contribute if he’s granted an eligibility waiver. Zeb Jackson is a reliable decision-maker with solid size. Fifth-year forward Kuany Kuany brings high-major experience. Alphonzo “Fats” Billups II was also a highly touted recruit a year ago. While there may be rotation spots available, the size of Belle’s role is tough to pin down given the up-for-grabs nature of the situation.
Ultimately, I want to make this bet. Michael Belle is a game-wrecker. He’s all over the place (in a good way) on defense. He’s going to find ways to get to the basket at the college level. A steady set-up man like Max Shulga will do wonders for him. Belle makes things happen, and I’m willing to put my foot down and say that with his physical tools, instincts, and motor, he’s going to carve out a solid role on this team at worst. He’ll have plenty of time with four years of eligibility remaining, so if it doesn’t all click right away, that’s okay. Still, I’ve placed him just outside the Top 60 range on my (very tentative) initial Big Board for 2024. I think there’s a real chance he puts everyone on notice in a hurry. But if we’re talking about him on a more immediate basis, he has to prove that the shot is at least on the right path. If he’s in the 25% range and his more erratic tendencies limit his opportunities next season, there won’t be much to work with in an NBA context. A ranking this high could look disastrous a month into the season, but I’m simply too intrigued. If Michael Belle can get his shot right, he’ll look a lot like what NBA teams want on the wing.
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https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/no-stone-unturned-2023-the-wings
Michael Belle, 6’7”, VCU, Freshman
(All statistics from the LNB Espoirs League)
2022-2023 Season Stats: 17.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 3.2 TOV, 2.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG
2022-2023 Shooting Splits: 56.3/45.5/62.4
Signature Performance: vs. Espoirs Le Portel. 22 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals. 10-11 FG, 1-1 3FG, 1-2 FT.
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
-N/A
Background
An England native, Michael Belle began playing basketball at 13 years old. He competed for Great Britain during the 2019 U16 Euro Championships, averaging 11.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, and 1.6 SPG. He appeared on Great Britain’s senior national team during the 2021 FIBA European World Cup qualifiers. In 2019, he began to play for Espoirs Strasbourg. The Espoirs league is a 21-and-under French pro league that sits under the LNB umbrella (France’s premier basketball association), and Espoirs Strasbourg is a feeder program for Strasbourg IG (obviously). Over four seasons, he earned increased playing time and a larger role. In his most recent season, he posted numbers that were in a similar vicinity to Bilal Coulibaly’s production in that same league. That said, Coulibaly is seven months younger and also managed to carve out a significant role for his team’s highest-level squad, whereas Belle did not. In May, Belle announced that he had committed to VCU to play college basketball. He will have four years of eligibility.
What’s Good
Michael Belle is a big wing athlete who moves like a pro on both ends of the floor. At his best, he looked like a man amongst boys in the Espoirs league. It shows up most prominently on the defensive end of the floor. He’s a mobile, active defender. If he has to chase a player around off-ball screens, he can do it. At the point of attack, he can keep his man out of the paint and poke the ball loose with his fast hands. When it’s time to contest a shot, he gets off the floor quickly. Rotationally, he’s outstanding. His closeouts are potent but balanced, covering ground in a hurry with long strides and ready to pop back into his stance if a player tries to blow past him. He knows where to go and he has the ability to get there in a flash. Belle’s rim protection instincts are potent for a wing, which is a skill that I’ve placed an increasing level of value on as offenses become more sophisticated and NBA floors more spaced. His motor doesn’t shut off, and he’s as competitive as it gets on the glass. The icing on the cake is that he has the offensive tools to grab and go. Between his rebounding and defensive playmaking (3.4 STL% and 1.3 BLK% in Espoirs play last season), he can end the other team’s possession and turn it into offense.
Belle is a nightmare in transition thanks to his speed, length, and passing chops. Those tools help in the halfcourt as well. His vision is rock solid and he’s comfortable making more complex decisions. He can make a quick swing pass with zip and intent or thread the needle with a pocket pass out of a ball screen when the situation calls for it. While he can dribble a little too high at times (a common issue for players his size at that age and not a major concern), Belle knows how to attack and take easy driving lanes to the basket. Even when there isn’t a simple path to the cup, Belle can make himself skinny to dice through the lane. He’s tremendous at the basket and loves contact, which enabled him to get to the free-throw line almost five times per game last season. Even while “playing up” for Strasbourg IG, he wasn’t fearful of opponents when he got into the restricted area. Belle is ambidextrous as a finisher, further accentuating the threat he poses on the interior.
His off-ball activity is good, too. He’s not a “stand around and wait for the ball” kind of guy. Belle moves, cuts, and screens. His timing and instincts help him get clean looks inside if his man falls asleep. The rebounding comes into play on this end, too. 2.7 of Belle’s 9.0 rebounds per game came on the offensive glass. He’s ready to crash and disrupt, snaking around defenders to get his hands on the rock. Even without the ball in his hands, teams still need to concentrate on keeping him out of the paint.
What Needs Improvement
Though Belle shot 45.5% from distance last season, the jump shot still scares me a little bit. He only took a hair over two attempts per game this past year. In his prior two seasons, he shot 21.1% and 25% from deep, and he’s never been above 70% from the free throw line. My biggest concern comes from his mechanics, which can vary significantly from attempt to attempt. Sometimes he’ll drift to one side when he jumps, sometimes his guide hand is involved to the point that it looks like he’s shooting with two hands, and sometimes he won’t follow through all the way. When playing with Strasbourg IG, he subsisted almost entirely on cuts, which is a tough way to live at a higher level. The jumper is the major swing skill here. Belle could also benefit from playing with more pace. He doesn’t change speeds much, often flying around as fast as he can, leading to mistakes and turnovers when he can’t get to his spots.
Conclusion
Michael Belle is a fascinating prospect, but also one of the more difficult projections to make for this coming cycle. On paper, there’s a lot to love—he’s a pro from an athleticism and size standpoint, makes a ton of plays on defense, has some intriguing playmaking chops, and he hit his threes last season. Conversely, he can be a little too wild at times, and the shooting variance (from both a form and results standpoint) is concerning.
Then, add in the change in context. He’ll go from being a leading option for his Espoirs team to joining a talented VCU squad that was largely pieced together via the transfer portal. Guard Max Shulga (stay tuned to this series for more on him later) and forward Sean Bairstow followed the team’s new coach, Ryan Odom, from Utah State. Both are productive, proven, and reliable. Joseph Bamisile has posted big numbers in the Atlantic-10 before and could contribute if he’s granted an eligibility waiver. Zeb Jackson is a reliable decision-maker with solid size. Fifth-year forward Kuany Kuany brings high-major experience. Alphonzo “Fats” Billups II was also a highly touted recruit a year ago. While there may be rotation spots available, the size of Belle’s role is tough to pin down given the up-for-grabs nature of the situation.
Ultimately, I want to make this bet. Michael Belle is a game-wrecker. He’s all over the place (in a good way) on defense. He’s going to find ways to get to the basket at the college level. A steady set-up man like Max Shulga will do wonders for him. Belle makes things happen, and I’m willing to put my foot down and say that with his physical tools, instincts, and motor, he’s going to carve out a solid role on this team at worst. He’ll have plenty of time with four years of eligibility remaining, so if it doesn’t all click right away, that’s okay. Still, I’ve placed him just outside the Top 60 range on my (very tentative) initial Big Board for 2024. I think there’s a real chance he puts everyone on notice in a hurry. But if we’re talking about him on a more immediate basis, he has to prove that the shot is at least on the right path. If he’s in the 25% range and his more erratic tendencies limit his opportunities next season, there won’t be much to work with in an NBA context. A ranking this high could look disastrous a month into the season, but I’m simply too intrigued. If Michael Belle can get his shot right, he’ll look a lot like what NBA teams want on the wing.
Belle has a limitless ceiling if he can shoot, or if he can learn to shoot. Even if he doesn't, he's going to win us a LOT of games. I am as excited about him as I am anyone on the team
WillWeaverRVA
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https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/no-stone-unturned-2023-the-wings
Michael Belle, 6’7”, VCU, Freshman
(All statistics from the LNB Espoirs League)
2022-2023 Season Stats: 17.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 3.2 TOV, 2.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG
2022-2023 Shooting Splits: 56.3/45.5/62.4
Signature Performance: vs. Espoirs Le Portel. 22 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals. 10-11 FG, 1-1 3FG, 1-2 FT.
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
-N/A
Background
An England native, Michael Belle began playing basketball at 13 years old. He competed for Great Britain during the 2019 U16 Euro Championships, averaging 11.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, and 1.6 SPG. He appeared on Great Britain’s senior national team during the 2021 FIBA European World Cup qualifiers. In 2019, he began to play for Espoirs Strasbourg. The Espoirs league is a 21-and-under French pro league that sits under the LNB umbrella (France’s premier basketball association), and Espoirs Strasbourg is a feeder program for Strasbourg IG (obviously). Over four seasons, he earned increased playing time and a larger role. In his most recent season, he posted numbers that were in a similar vicinity to Bilal Coulibaly’s production in that same league. That said, Coulibaly is seven months younger and also managed to carve out a significant role for his team’s highest-level squad, whereas Belle did not. In May, Belle announced that he had committed to VCU to play college basketball. He will have four years of eligibility.
What’s Good
Michael Belle is a big wing athlete who moves like a pro on both ends of the floor. At his best, he looked like a man amongst boys in the Espoirs league. It shows up most prominently on the defensive end of the floor. He’s a mobile, active defender. If he has to chase a player around off-ball screens, he can do it. At the point of attack, he can keep his man out of the paint and poke the ball loose with his fast hands. When it’s time to contest a shot, he gets off the floor quickly. Rotationally, he’s outstanding. His closeouts are potent but balanced, covering ground in a hurry with long strides and ready to pop back into his stance if a player tries to blow past him. He knows where to go and he has the ability to get there in a flash. Belle’s rim protection instincts are potent for a wing, which is a skill that I’ve placed an increasing level of value on as offenses become more sophisticated and NBA floors more spaced. His motor doesn’t shut off, and he’s as competitive as it gets on the glass. The icing on the cake is that he has the offensive tools to grab and go. Between his rebounding and defensive playmaking (3.4 STL% and 1.3 BLK% in Espoirs play last season), he can end the other team’s possession and turn it into offense.
Belle is a nightmare in transition thanks to his speed, length, and passing chops. Those tools help in the halfcourt as well. His vision is rock solid and he’s comfortable making more complex decisions. He can make a quick swing pass with zip and intent or thread the needle with a pocket pass out of a ball screen when the situation calls for it. While he can dribble a little too high at times (a common issue for players his size at that age and not a major concern), Belle knows how to attack and take easy driving lanes to the basket. Even when there isn’t a simple path to the cup, Belle can make himself skinny to dice through the lane. He’s tremendous at the basket and loves contact, which enabled him to get to the free-throw line almost five times per game last season. Even while “playing up” for Strasbourg IG, he wasn’t fearful of opponents when he got into the restricted area. Belle is ambidextrous as a finisher, further accentuating the threat he poses on the interior.
His off-ball activity is good, too. He’s not a “stand around and wait for the ball” kind of guy. Belle moves, cuts, and screens. His timing and instincts help him get clean looks inside if his man falls asleep. The rebounding comes into play on this end, too. 2.7 of Belle’s 9.0 rebounds per game came on the offensive glass. He’s ready to crash and disrupt, snaking around defenders to get his hands on the rock. Even without the ball in his hands, teams still need to concentrate on keeping him out of the paint.
What Needs Improvement
Though Belle shot 45.5% from distance last season, the jump shot still scares me a little bit. He only took a hair over two attempts per game this past year. In his prior two seasons, he shot 21.1% and 25% from deep, and he’s never been above 70% from the free throw line. My biggest concern comes from his mechanics, which can vary significantly from attempt to attempt. Sometimes he’ll drift to one side when he jumps, sometimes his guide hand is involved to the point that it looks like he’s shooting with two hands, and sometimes he won’t follow through all the way. When playing with Strasbourg IG, he subsisted almost entirely on cuts, which is a tough way to live at a higher level. The jumper is the major swing skill here. Belle could also benefit from playing with more pace. He doesn’t change speeds much, often flying around as fast as he can, leading to mistakes and turnovers when he can’t get to his spots.
Conclusion
Michael Belle is a fascinating prospect, but also one of the more difficult projections to make for this coming cycle. On paper, there’s a lot to love—he’s a pro from an athleticism and size standpoint, makes a ton of plays on defense, has some intriguing playmaking chops, and he hit his threes last season. Conversely, he can be a little too wild at times, and the shooting variance (from both a form and results standpoint) is concerning.
Then, add in the change in context. He’ll go from being a leading option for his Espoirs team to joining a talented VCU squad that was largely pieced together via the transfer portal. Guard Max Shulga (stay tuned to this series for more on him later) and forward Sean Bairstow followed the team’s new coach, Ryan Odom, from Utah State. Both are productive, proven, and reliable. Joseph Bamisile has posted big numbers in the Atlantic-10 before and could contribute if he’s granted an eligibility waiver. Zeb Jackson is a reliable decision-maker with solid size. Fifth-year forward Kuany Kuany brings high-major experience. Alphonzo “Fats” Billups II was also a highly touted recruit a year ago. While there may be rotation spots available, the size of Belle’s role is tough to pin down given the up-for-grabs nature of the situation.
Ultimately, I want to make this bet. Michael Belle is a game-wrecker. He’s all over the place (in a good way) on defense. He’s going to find ways to get to the basket at the college level. A steady set-up man like Max Shulga will do wonders for him. Belle makes things happen, and I’m willing to put my foot down and say that with his physical tools, instincts, and motor, he’s going to carve out a solid role on this team at worst. He’ll have plenty of time with four years of eligibility remaining, so if it doesn’t all click right away, that’s okay. Still, I’ve placed him just outside the Top 60 range on my (very tentative) initial Big Board for 2024. I think there’s a real chance he puts everyone on notice in a hurry. But if we’re talking about him on a more immediate basis, he has to prove that the shot is at least on the right path. If he’s in the 25% range and his more erratic tendencies limit his opportunities next season, there won’t be much to work with in an NBA context. A ranking this high could look disastrous a month into the season, but I’m simply too intrigued. If Michael Belle can get his shot right, he’ll look a lot like what NBA teams want on the wing.
Love this breakdown. Belle has a very high ceiling.
https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/no-stone-unturned-2023-the-wings
Michael Belle, 6’7”, VCU, Freshman
(All statistics from the LNB Espoirs League)
2022-2023 Season Stats: 17.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 3.2 TOV, 2.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG
2022-2023 Shooting Splits: 56.3/45.5/62.4
Signature Performance: vs. Espoirs Le Portel. 22 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals. 10-11 FG, 1-1 3FG, 1-2 FT.
Tough Test(s) (games against Quad-1 Competition):
-N/A
Background
An England native, Michael Belle began playing basketball at 13 years old. He competed for Great Britain during the 2019 U16 Euro Championships, averaging 11.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, and 1.6 SPG. He appeared on Great Britain’s senior national team during the 2021 FIBA European World Cup qualifiers. In 2019, he began to play for Espoirs Strasbourg. The Espoirs league is a 21-and-under French pro league that sits under the LNB umbrella (France’s premier basketball association), and Espoirs Strasbourg is a feeder program for Strasbourg IG (obviously). Over four seasons, he earned increased playing time and a larger role. In his most recent season, he posted numbers that were in a similar vicinity to Bilal Coulibaly’s production in that same league. That said, Coulibaly is seven months younger and also managed to carve out a significant role for his team’s highest-level squad, whereas Belle did not. In May, Belle announced that he had committed to VCU to play college basketball. He will have four years of eligibility.
What’s Good
Michael Belle is a big wing athlete who moves like a pro on both ends of the floor. At his best, he looked like a man amongst boys in the Espoirs league. It shows up most prominently on the defensive end of the floor. He’s a mobile, active defender. If he has to chase a player around off-ball screens, he can do it. At the point of attack, he can keep his man out of the paint and poke the ball loose with his fast hands. When it’s time to contest a shot, he gets off the floor quickly. Rotationally, he’s outstanding. His closeouts are potent but balanced, covering ground in a hurry with long strides and ready to pop back into his stance if a player tries to blow past him. He knows where to go and he has the ability to get there in a flash. Belle’s rim protection instincts are potent for a wing, which is a skill that I’ve placed an increasing level of value on as offenses become more sophisticated and NBA floors more spaced. His motor doesn’t shut off, and he’s as competitive as it gets on the glass. The icing on the cake is that he has the offensive tools to grab and go. Between his rebounding and defensive playmaking (3.4 STL% and 1.3 BLK% in Espoirs play last season), he can end the other team’s possession and turn it into offense.
Belle is a nightmare in transition thanks to his speed, length, and passing chops. Those tools help in the halfcourt as well. His vision is rock solid and he’s comfortable making more complex decisions. He can make a quick swing pass with zip and intent or thread the needle with a pocket pass out of a ball screen when the situation calls for it. While he can dribble a little too high at times (a common issue for players his size at that age and not a major concern), Belle knows how to attack and take easy driving lanes to the basket. Even when there isn’t a simple path to the cup, Belle can make himself skinny to dice through the lane. He’s tremendous at the basket and loves contact, which enabled him to get to the free-throw line almost five times per game last season. Even while “playing up” for Strasbourg IG, he wasn’t fearful of opponents when he got into the restricted area. Belle is ambidextrous as a finisher, further accentuating the threat he poses on the interior.
His off-ball activity is good, too. He’s not a “stand around and wait for the ball” kind of guy. Belle moves, cuts, and screens. His timing and instincts help him get clean looks inside if his man falls asleep. The rebounding comes into play on this end, too. 2.7 of Belle’s 9.0 rebounds per game came on the offensive glass. He’s ready to crash and disrupt, snaking around defenders to get his hands on the rock. Even without the ball in his hands, teams still need to concentrate on keeping him out of the paint.
What Needs Improvement
Though Belle shot 45.5% from distance last season, the jump shot still scares me a little bit. He only took a hair over two attempts per game this past year. In his prior two seasons, he shot 21.1% and 25% from deep, and he’s never been above 70% from the free throw line. My biggest concern comes from his mechanics, which can vary significantly from attempt to attempt. Sometimes he’ll drift to one side when he jumps, sometimes his guide hand is involved to the point that it looks like he’s shooting with two hands, and sometimes he won’t follow through all the way. When playing with Strasbourg IG, he subsisted almost entirely on cuts, which is a tough way to live at a higher level. The jumper is the major swing skill here. Belle could also benefit from playing with more pace. He doesn’t change speeds much, often flying around as fast as he can, leading to mistakes and turnovers when he can’t get to his spots.
Conclusion
Michael Belle is a fascinating prospect, but also one of the more difficult projections to make for this coming cycle. On paper, there’s a lot to love—he’s a pro from an athleticism and size standpoint, makes a ton of plays on defense, has some intriguing playmaking chops, and he hit his threes last season. Conversely, he can be a little too wild at times, and the shooting variance (from both a form and results standpoint) is concerning.
Then, add in the change in context. He’ll go from being a leading option for his Espoirs team to joining a talented VCU squad that was largely pieced together via the transfer portal. Guard Max Shulga (stay tuned to this series for more on him later) and forward Sean Bairstow followed the team’s new coach, Ryan Odom, from Utah State. Both are productive, proven, and reliable. Joseph Bamisile has posted big numbers in the Atlantic-10 before and could contribute if he’s granted an eligibility waiver. Zeb Jackson is a reliable decision-maker with solid size. Fifth-year forward Kuany Kuany brings high-major experience. Alphonzo “Fats” Billups II was also a highly touted recruit a year ago. While there may be rotation spots available, the size of Belle’s role is tough to pin down given the up-for-grabs nature of the situation.
Ultimately, I want to make this bet. Michael Belle is a game-wrecker. He’s all over the place (in a good way) on defense. He’s going to find ways to get to the basket at the college level. A steady set-up man like Max Shulga will do wonders for him. Belle makes things happen, and I’m willing to put my foot down and say that with his physical tools, instincts, and motor, he’s going to carve out a solid role on this team at worst. He’ll have plenty of time with four years of eligibility remaining, so if it doesn’t all click right away, that’s okay. Still, I’ve placed him just outside the Top 60 range on my (very tentative) initial Big Board for 2024. I think there’s a real chance he puts everyone on notice in a hurry. But if we’re talking about him on a more immediate basis, he has to prove that the shot is at least on the right path. If he’s in the 25% range and his more erratic tendencies limit his opportunities next season, there won’t be much to work with in an NBA context. A ranking this high could look disastrous a month into the season, but I’m simply too intrigued. If Michael Belle can get his shot right, he’ll look a lot like what NBA teams want on the wing.
This is a solid analysis of this young man. Not the fluff our fans espouse. He has potential and is athletically blessed. However, he needs work.
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MobileMunchies
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BaNgMyPrOgRaM
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Do we know what his major is?
I like articles that give you a look into what type of player and person is coming to VCU. This young man has athletic talent and seems to be solid. If he works he can become a very good basketball player and representative both for himself and VCU.
Too often we read how players like this were doing it big in pro leagues and are absolutely steals. This wasnt the case with Belle as he stated he didnt know if he'd get D1 offers as late as 22. However, he kept grinding. VCU needs grinders no hype.
I personally think Tobi will make a leap this year as will Fats, and Fermin. If Belle can continue his grind hopefully, we get a Nick George type conversion in years 2-4.
Odom has checked his first box. He recruited well.
MobileMunchies
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I told him the other day what a pleasure it was having him on board, that I'd spent hours searching for any and everything I could find about him and watched every video I could find, and after having done that, fully understand why it's so much better to have him on board rather than facing him as opposition.
MobileMunchies
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Majors in dunkin on fools with a minor in posterizing.
BaNgMyPrOgRaM
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Hope he matriculates!