Ryan Knudson

Eventually, his father sued for full custody, and he wanted to bring Belle back to Sacramento.

His father and his grandparents were worried about the mental and physical state of his mother.

Bell's mother said those allegations were false, and she told the judge that her son wouldn't be where he was without her.

She noted that 37 colleges had offered him scholarships.

Ultimately, the court ruled in favor of Bell's father.

The judge said Bell should return to Sacramento, but also ruled that Bell could finish out his junior football season at Mission Viejo.

But Bell never went back to Sacramento.

That's next.

By his junior year, Phillip Bell had become a hot prospect in the Southern California football scene.

In 2023, he helped Mission Viejo win the state championship.

Bell caught two touchdowns in that game.

But his mother and stepfather's money trouble persisted.

When Brett Stey, LA's money man, got word, he decided to put in an offer.

Money Man was out.

As Bell was still being shopped to boosters, according to texts reviewed by the journal, he embarked on a series of college visits.

Over the summer, Bell and his mom, Samantha Barnes, went to visit colleges where he could make big money playing football.

They toured the University of Washington, Penn State, and Ohio State.

In a text to her friend after the Washington visit, Barnes said, quote, Good news.

They offered P350K.

A University of Washington spokesman declined to comment.