Jazz: Bell seeking college diploma

Raja Bell called the tune: He marches to the beat of a different drummer. Always has, always will.

But that does not mean the Jazz guard cannot hear other songs. As Bell has grown older, he has learned to appreciate different perspectives and different tunes. That evolution has served the 34-year-old, 11-year veteran well on the court. And it is about to bring his life full circle off it.

Bell is one mathematics credit away from obtaining a degree in sports management from Florida International University. It has been 11 years since he was a Panther. Eleven years since he dropped his focus on school and picked up the dream of making the NBA. But with the help of the university and men’s basketball coach Isiah Thomas, the Jazz guard is expected to soon finish what he started.

“I understand there are people that it means something to,” Bell said.
 Bell acknowledged he did not always comprehend the magnitude of what he initially walked away from, referring to himself as a “silly” kid who grasped the present but missed the future.

“I did well in school [when] I wanted to. I always had high scores,” Bell said. “But it was one of those things where my focus wasn’t there. I just didn’t put a lot of stock in it.”

 A college degree also slipped through the hands of Jazz guard Sundiata Gaines, who is three classes short of a diploma from the University of Georgia. Gaines said he plans to return to school, though, and wants to become only the second person in his family to graduate from college.

“The thing about the NBA is, you’re only going to play for so many years,” said Gaines, who is fighting for a roster spot with Utah. “You’ve got to figure out what you want to do with your life beyond. To have that in my pocket going into whatever future I’ll have, I think that means a lot for myself.”