Area youth will have a new opportunity to hone their basketball skills beginning Monday.

Earnest Bell Elite Basketball Academy opens tomorrow in southeast Minot with classes for early elementary students who are just starting out to more experienced players in high school.

Bell, who has performed with basketball teams internationally, said the sessions will focus on skills training and helping young players make the most of their abilities.

“I am all about basketball,” said Bell, who loves nothing more than teaching the game. “I found my passion.”

A native of Louisville, Ky., he played high school basketball and went on to play for a college in Florida. He transferred to the University of North Carolina to play, but his situation changed with the death of his mother. However, thanks to some coach connections, he went to Brandon, Manitoba, in 1999 to play college basketball there. His team played in championships and he was named to a basketball hall of fame.

More importantly, his experience in Brandon led to his discovery of his love for coaching kids. He finished third string in the National Basketball Association try-outs, but he played professionally in Canada with the Brandon Bobcats as well as in Spain, France, Denmark, Syria and Lebanon.

“Wherever I went, I coached,” he said.

In 2006 he came to Minot because he wanted to return to America and also wanted to remain close to Brandon. He has coached local traveling youth basketball teams. Lately, he has devoted his coaching expertise to his daughters’ youth teams.

Bell said Minot youth haven’t had the opportunities to learn to play that their competition in other larger communities in the state have. Training doesn’t formally begin until fourth grade and then gym space is limited, restricting the time a player can put into the sport, he said.

He has converted a warehouse unit into a mini-gym, where children as young as first grade can learn to get excited about basketball. The advanced courses are designed to be challenging to even skilled players.

The academy is located in Suite 2 in the warehouse complex at 2725 31st St. SE, which is on the east side of U.S. Highway 52, just past the Velva exit off the U.S. Highway 2 & 52 Bypass East.

Class sizes are limited to 10 students to provide more individualized instruction.

Families can register or get more information by emailing EarnestLBell@hotmail.com or by calling 441-0085. They also can enroll at the start of any class time.