Bell — who will play for the MSU women’s basketball team next season — and East Lansing defeated Detroit Renaissance, 65-54, to win the Class A Championship.

The win was a storybook ending for Bell, a 5-foot-11 guard who averaged 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals per game, also being named Michigan’s Miss Basketball.

Friday, The State News spoke with Bell after she led the Trojans past Detroit Pershing, 70-62, in the semifinal to get to know more about the future Spartan.

The State News Why MSU?

Klarissa Bell I have five younger brothers, so just staying close to home was really important to me so I can see them go to high school and graduate from high school and everything. Also, my dad just got remarried, and probably will have a kid, and I want to know my brother or sister. Basically just family. And I love (MSU head coach Suzy Merchant); she’s super nice. (Assistant coach Rick Albro), he’s a really nice guy, (associate head coach Shane Clipfell), (assistant coach Tempie Brown), they’re just really nice people.

SN Did you grow up in East Lansing and always want to come to MSU?

KB Yeah, I did (grow up in East Lansing). I guess I didn’t really know if I was going to go to college until I started getting recruiters calling me and stuff, and so I guess I was just looking around. I didn’t really know too much about State, other than coming to a few games. But coming here is amazing. I’m sure it’s going to be a lot of fun.

SN What did you like about coach Merchant during the recruiting process?

KB When she told me that they were going to try to get toward a fast-paced game. That’s my style — I like to run, I like to get up and down the court — so when she said that, I knew that it was a perfect match.

SN Has there been anything said about early playing time? What do you expect coming in as a freshman?

KB Not really. I know I’m going to have to come here and work my butt off to earn a spot, so I guess there are no guarantees. I’ve just got to come in here and work my hardest.