"I really never had the best relationship with my dad": Ohio State WR commit opens up about his father suing his school post mother's death

Ohio State commit Philip Bell, a four-star wide receiver from Mission Viejo High School and the No. 184 overall prospect in the 2024 class, is navigating a difficult senior year. The California standout, ranked No. 19 among receivers by 247Sports, tragically lost his mother, Samantha, on June 27, 2024.

According to a family GoFundMe page, Samantha passed away in her sleep. Now 17, Bell is learning to cope without the woman he described as his closest family member.

”I feel like she’s the only person I’ve had since I was born. Just me, my mom, and my sister,” Bell said.

Bell’s life became even more complicated when his biological father, Philip Bell Jr., and his maternal grandparents, Anthony and Lorna Barnes, filed a lawsuit against Saddleback Valley Unified School District (SVUSD), coach Chad Johnson and several others. The lawsuit, filed on Aug. 19, alleges multiple claims, including interference with a familial relationship, negligence and emotional distress.

The situation has been challenging for Bell, who said (per Sports Illustrated):

“It’s crazy,” Bell said on Sept. 27. “It’s been real hard. I really never had the best relationship with my dad," Bell said. "I feel like he tried to take control of me when my mom died. My grandparents on my mom’s side tried to do that as well. And I didn’t feel like it was right."

Bell’s emotional journey coincided with major life events. His mother’s birthday was on Aug. 25, his own on Aug. 30, and on Aug. 31, he committed to play for Ohio State. Reflecting on his commitment, Bell shared (per Sports Illustrated):

“It was emotional,” Bell in August. “It was exciting because I got to announce my commitment to the world … and I knew that was the school (my mom) wanted me to go to — that was the good part. But the sad part was her not being there.”

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Philip Bell Jr. lawsuit adds to the challenging season for Ohio State commit

A 26-page lawsuit filed by Philip Bell Jr. has added turmoil to an already difficult year for his son, top high school receiver Philip Bell III. The lawsuit, which covers topics from Bell’s enrollment at Mission Viejo to the death of his mother, Samantha Sandoval, alleges that Mission Viejo High School and the Saddleback Valley Unified School District contributed to emotional distress.

Jamir Davis, the attorney for Bell Jr., said:

"The loss of Samantha has deeply affected everyone, and this has been an incredibly challenging time," said Jamir Davis, Phillip Bell Jr.'s lawyer. "The blatant disregard by Mission Viejo, Saddleback Valley Unified School District, and others has caused my clients significant emotional distress."

Though the Diablos are 8-0 and ranked No. 3 in the SBLive/SI CIF Southern Section Top 25 rankings, Bell has found it hard to stay focused on football.

”I’ve tried to tell them again and again to stop, but I can’t control them — they’re grown,” Bell said. But thankfully, I have football to keep me going. Some nights, when I don’t play well, it gets kind of hard. Because those are nights I can go to my mom. I know what she wants me to do,” Bell said of his mother. She just wants me to keep going. So that’s what I’m going to do.”

On the field, Bell has excelled, helping Mission Viejo win a CIF Division 1-AA title in 2023 with 56 receptions for 644 yards and 7 touchdowns.