Tai Bell, a five-star point guard in the 2028 class who has visited Syracuse basketball, is switching up Florida high schools for his upcoming junior season.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Bell said on X that he will transfer to the powerhouse Christopher Columbus High School in Miami for his 2026-27 campaign. This past season, he was a standout at the Mater Lakes Academy in Hialeah, Fla.
I am excited to announce that I will be transferring to @ColumbusHS_Mia for my Jr year! I want to thank Coach @dylan_estock Coach @NBAPETE94ft and @MLA_BasketbaII for the last 3 years. I love you guys and I'm grateful for everything. 💯 @PaulBiancardi @JamieShaw5 pic.twitter.com/4BfWnYLRQP
— Tai Bell (@TaiBoogie5) May 23, 2026
Bell, a top-20 national prospect in the 2028 cycle, was offered by the former Orange staff, led by then-head coach Adrian Autry, last July. This past March, Bell took an unofficial visit to Syracuse basketball.
The Cuse is in the house! Thanks @Cuse_MBB 🍊@SyracuseOn247 pic.twitter.com/CWxMsqHmIn
— Tai Bell (@TaiBoogie5) March 6, 2026
It wouldn't surprise me at all if the new 'Cuse staff, led by first-year head coach Gerry McNamara, re-offers a scholarship to Bell, who is the son of former NBA shooting guard and defensive star Raja Bell.
Tai Bell will join a Christopher Columbus program that went 26-6 during the 2025-26 stanza and claimed the Florida High School Athletic Association ("FHSAA") Class 7A state title, the Explorers' fifth straight championship in this classification.
This past term, Columbus was a top-20 national team in high school hoops, according to media outlets such as ESPN and MaxPreps. In 2024-25, led by future Duke standouts Cameron Boozer and Cayden Boozer, the Explorers went 30-3 overall and won the Chipotle Nationals.
Syracuse basketball coaches have made several high school offers of late.
In 2025-26, MaxPreps gave Bell an honorable mention nod for its sophomore All-America teams. According to his X page, as a sophomore at Mater Lakes, Bell averaged 32 points, seven rebounds and five assists per contest while scoring the Class 4A player of the year honors in Florida.
On the AAU circuits this spring and summer, he is playing up a division. Bell has competed for the 17U team of the Pembroke Pines, Fla.-based SOH Elite in the Under Armour Association ("UAA") league. This weekend, though, Bell is suiting up for the Atlanta-based Jet Academy in Nike's EYBL league.
Blessed to get the W in my first @NikeEYB game with @jetacademyeybl 17U. I'm so grateful for the opportunity! I pitched in with 2️⃣1️⃣ points 7️⃣ assists and 6️⃣ rebounds. ✈️ @PaulBiancardi @JamieShaw5 pic.twitter.com/zOjX9RIElJ
— Tai Bell (@TaiBoogie5) May 23, 2026
The EYBL has been holding its third spring session this weekend, in Kansas City, Kan. In his first three games for the Jet Academy, according to the Nike league's Web site, Bell is averaging 18.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game while connecting on 55.2 percent from the field, 50.0 percent from beyond the arc and 70.4 percent from the free-throw line.
Within the 2028 class, the industry-generated Rivals Industry Ranking places Bell at No. 19 overall, No. 5 at point guard and No. 3 in Florida. He is a possible re-class candidate into the 2027 cycle.
According to recruiting analysts, some of the suitors that are heavily involved with Bell these days are Texas, Florida State, Miami, Florida, Arkansas, Baylor, Houston, Kentucky and Purdue, among others.
The contact period for the 2028 class opens on June 15. Let's see if the new Syracuse basketball staff reaches out to Bell and re-offers him.
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