The 17-year-old re-signed with the club yesterday after being offered a lucrative deal to play with the Albury-Wodonga Bandits.

Born and bred in Bendigo, Bell began the game at a young age and has since progressed through the ranks to become a key component of the Braves line-up.

Bell averaged 10 minutes per game last season scoring 64 points and pulling down 31 rebounds.

His performance in the South East Australian Basketball League was enough to warrant attention from the National Basketball League.

The rising star spent a week on the training court with the West Sydney Razorbacks which fuelled his desire to play at NBL level.

But as Bell said yesterday short term goals needed to be accomplished before looking to far ahead.

He said staying with the Braves for season 2005 was an easy decision, despite the attention from surrounding clubs. "Albury pushed really hard," he said.

Bell is in contention for the under-20 Victorian team, a side which is also coached by Albury-Wodonga coach Matthew Morgan.

"I went over there for training once and didn't like it much.

"I realised quickly where I belong and the side is shaping up extremely well next year so I am looking forward to that now." Bell is 18 in February, but he shows maturity beyond his years.

Braves coach Wayne Larkins was delighted to have Bell remain in the blue and gold.

Larkins also expressed his disappointed at the Bandits for trying to poach one of Bendigo's up and coming junior players.

"I was surprised and disappointed at the amount of effort they (Bandits) put into getting Taylor across there," he said.

"You would have thought they'd be more worried about developing their own youth.

"Potentially, Taylor has the ability to be very good in the SEABL and NBL.

"He just needs to continue to develop a more ferocious nature now that he is dealing with the bigger men."