Dia Bell, a five-star quarterback committed to Texas, currently shines at American Heritage High School in Florida. But what’s wild is, football wasn’t always the dream.
Growing up, Dia was more focused on basketball, following in the footsteps of his dad, 12-year NBA vet Raja Bell.
Yet over the past few years, Dia’s rise at quarterback has been undeniable. He’s gone from hoop dreams to gridiron dominance, carving a path that now has Texas fans fired up about the future. And he’s just getting started, yet he’s already shining through high school football.
From Hardwood Dreams to Gridiron Greatness
“Growing up, it was always basketball,” Bell said recently. “I wanted to go play basketball at Duke. Like that’s what I was set on.”
And for a while, that path made sense. Dia averaged 20.7 points as a freshman and 13.9 as a sophomore. But then COVID hit. “As time went on, COVID kinda came around and you couldn’t really get in gyms anymore, and I started like shifting my focus to football really,” he explained.
His dad, NBA vet Raja Bell, was a steady influence. “And I kind of figured out that I could use that as my own navigating tool to kind of create my own name and my own kind of legacy and not kind of be in his shadow,” Bell added.
Raja’s work ethic and mindset laid the foundation, but Dia is determined to do things his own way, and football gave him that space.
Elite Numbers and a Proven Track Record
At 6-foot-2.5, 215 pounds with 10-inch hands, Dia Bell is built like a future Power Five star, and he plays like one too. Before his senior season, Bell had already compiled a 19-4 record as the starting quarterback for Florida powerhouse American Heritage, throwing for over 4,500 yards.
His 2024 campaign was cut short by a leg injury, but not before he completed 70.6% of his passes for 2,597 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 6 picks, plus 561 rushing yards and 5 scores. That earned him Florida’s Gatorade Player of the Year and 2025 Elite 11 MVP honors.
In 2023, as a first-year starter, he tossed 20 TDs and just 4 INTs. Even as a backup in 2022, he made an impact with 317 yards and 4 TDs. He first saw varsity action in 8th grade.
And if that wasn’t enough, Bell also dominated on the hardwood, averaging 20.7 points as a freshman and 13.9 as a sophomore.
Dia’s 11 MVP Headlines Texas Commitment
Dia Bell became the first in program history to win the prestigious Elite 11 MVP award. The Fort Lauderdale native dominated the competition in Los Angeles, capping the week by going 18-of-23 for four touchdowns in the 7-on-7 finale.
His poise, accuracy, and serious arm talent turned heads all week. Bell was named Day 1 MVP, stood out in the Panini Accuracy Challenge, and hit 15 of 20 throws during the Pro Day drill, his only misses being overthrows, showing just how much zip he has.
With a résumé now joining the likes of Caleb Williams, C.J. Stroud, and Matthew Stafford, Bell has solidified his place among the nation’s elite.
For Texas fans, this commitment isn’t just a big win. It’s a sign that the Longhorns’ future under center is in incredibly capable hands.
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