Lauren Betts

Last updated
Lauren Betts
LaurenUSA.jpg
Betts with the United States in 2023
No. 51–UCLA Bruins
Position Center
League Pac-12 Conference
Personal information
Born (2003-10-15) October 15, 2003 (age 20)
Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Career information
High school Grandview (Aurora, Colorado)
College
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing the Flag of the United States.svg  United States
FIBA AmeriCup
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2023 Mexico Team
FIBA Under-19 World Cup
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2021 Hungary Team
FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2019 Chile Team

Lauren Marie Betts (born October 15, 2003) is an American college basketball player for the UCLA Bruins of the Pac-12 Conference. She played for Grandview High School in Aurora, Colorado, where she was ranked as the number one recruit in her class by ESPN. Betts started her college career at Stanford before transferring to UCLA after one season.

Contents

Early life and high school career

Betts was born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain and moved around the country during her childhood due to the basketball career of her father, Andrew. [1] Her mother, Michelle, played volleyball for Long Beach State at the college level. [2] When she was in third grade, her family settled in the United States. [3] Before focusing on basketball, Betts was involved in dance, swimming and soccer. [1] She played for Grandview High School in Aurora, Colorado. As a freshman, Betts averaged 12.7 points, 8.6 boards and 3.9 blocks per game for the Class 5A runners-up. [4] In her sophomore season, she averaged 17.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game, leading her team back to the state title game, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [5] Betts averaged 17.5 points and 11 rebounds per game as a junior, helping Grandview achieve a 17–1 record and reach the Class 5A semifinals. She was named Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year. [6] Betts led her team to the Class 5A state championship in her senior season. [7] She averaged 17.2 points, 11 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game, winning Women's Basketball Coaches Association High School Player of the Year and repeating as Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year. [8] [9] She also played in both the McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic. [10]

Recruiting

Betts was considered a five-star recruit and the number one player in the 2022 class by ESPN. On January 13, 2021, she committed to playing college basketball for Stanford over offers from Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA, UConn and South Carolina. [11]

College career

Betts came off the bench for Stanford in her freshman season. [12] On November 9, 2022, she recorded a season-high 18 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks in a 104–40 win over Cal State Northridge. [13] As a freshman, Betts averaged 5.9 points and 3.5 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per game, earning Pac-12 All-Freshman honorable mention. For her sophomore season, she transferred to UCLA. [14]

National team career

Betts won a gold medal with the United States under-16 national team at the 2019 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Chile. She averaged 12.2 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, earning all-tournament honors. [4] Betts was the youngest member of the under-19 national team at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Hungary. She averaged 11.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game en route to a gold medal. [15] Betts played for the senior national team at the 2023 FIBA AmeriCup in Mexico, helping her team win a silver medal. She averaged 11.4 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. [16]

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References

  1. 1 2 Newman, Kyle (March 9, 2022). "Grandview's Lauren Betts has lived up to the hype as nation's top prospect — but she still needs a championship". The Denver Post . Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  2. ↑ Villa, Walter (June 11, 2019). "Women's basketball recruiting: Well-traveled Lauren Betts heads to Chile with USA Basketball". ESPN . Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  3. ↑ Drumwright, Steve (June 13, 2019). "Lauren Betts Showing She Belongs Among World's Best With Selection to USA U16 National Team". USA Basketball. Red Line Editorial. Archived from the original on June 15, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Keeler, Sean (December 8, 2019). "Lauren Betts is 6-foot-7, 16 years old, and hasn't even touched the ceiling yet". The Denver Post . Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  5. ↑ Schubert, Matt (January 14, 2021). "Grandview's Lauren Betts commits to Stanford women's basketball, joining two other recent Colorado recruits". The Denver Post . Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  6. ↑ Nguyen, Joe (May 27, 2021). "Grandview's Lauren Betts named Gatorade Colorado girls basketball player of the year". The Denver Post . Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  7. ↑ Keeler, Sean (March 12, 2022). "Class 5A girls championship: Lauren Betts, Grandview finally get their title, top Valor Christian, 52-40". The Denver Post . Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  8. ↑ Needelman, Joshua (May 12, 2022). "Stanford commit Lauren Betts named WBCA Player of Year". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  9. ↑ Nguyen, Joe (March 9, 2022). "Grandview's Lauren Betts named back-to-back Colorado Gatorade Colorado Player of the Year". The Denver Post . Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  10. ↑ Desadier, Charlie (June 10, 2022). "No. 1 Senior Lauren Betts is Ready For Her Next Journey at Stanford". Slam . Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  11. ↑ Laflin, Shane (January 13, 2021). "Lauren Betts, ranked No. 1 in Class of 2022, commits to Stanford". ESPN . Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  12. ↑ Ingemi, Marisa (December 27, 2022). "Lauren Betts is the future of Stanford basketball, even if she isn't the now". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  13. ↑ Parker, Ben (November 10, 2022). "Recap: #2 Stanford WBB dominates CSUN". Rivals . Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  14. ↑ Nguyen, Thuc Nhi (April 18, 2023). "UCLA basketball adds Stanford transfer Lauren Betts, the No. 1 prospect in 2022 class". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  15. ↑ Laase, Eden (November 2, 2021). "Bigger than tall: How No. 1 recruit Lauren Betts found herself and her voice". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Betts, Osborne Claim Silver with USA at 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup". UCLA Athletics. July 9, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
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