To be a middle schooler who’s more than six feet tall? It’s not easy. That’s precisely what Lauren Betts had to go through – an experience where bullies didn’t hide behind whispers, and Betts simply couldn’t hide. It was a tough phase for her, but two things got her through it: basketball and her family. And after all, had it not been for her parents, she might not have had basketball.

How did basketball find its way to Lauren Betts?

With her parents moving across the world for athletic pursuits, one thing that stayed with the Betts was the love for basketball – a passion that is now carried on by the next generation. The UCLA star’s basketball journey started even before she was born. It started with her father in England. As a 14-year-old who was 6’8”, Andrew Betts went to see his local professional team play, and people took notice of his impressive height. That was the beginning of his journey.

Day by day, basketball started meaning more to the Britisher. And day by day, he started getting better at it, making his way up the ranks. Eventually, he became a junior youth club player for the Leicester Riders. College basketball led him to the United States, where he played at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. Subsequently, he competed for the Long Beach State University. And that’s where he met Lauren’s mother, Michelle.

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At the time, Michelle was a Division I NCAA volleyball player for Long Beach State Athletics, the team that won the national championship in 1993. And between 1997 and 1998, they fell in love. So when Andrew was selected in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets as the 50th overall pick and started his professional club career that same year with Fortitudo Bologna in Italy, they moved together. Subsequent years saw him play in Greece, Italy, Spain, and Ukraine, apart from representing the British and Great Britain national teams. During his stint in Spain, Lauren was born.

As the now 20-year-old got older, watching her father play intrigued her more than anything. So, after spending the first nine years of her life in Spain, the Betts family moved to Colorado after Andrew retired. And although her middle school experience wasn’t the best, going out on the basketball floor was what made her feel most at home. As the 6’7” star got better, she revealed a conversation she had with her father.

As reported by Just Women’s Sports, Lauren said, “I remember having a conversation with my dad where he said, ‘You are going to have to work really hard to get where you want to go.’ So from then on, I started working, going to the gym more, conditioning myself.” With all the bullying she was facing, she started working on her mental health by going for counseling after her mother suggested it. All the support she’s received from her parents – and two siblings – has shaped her into the basketball star she is today.

Andrew and Michelle Betts have now split. However, per Michelle, “We never got along this well when we were married.” And this friendly relationship between her parents keeps Lauren grounded, something she divulged herself. So, whenever she goes back to Colorado, she splits her time between her parents’ homes. With Andrew, she usually indulges in a 2v2 game – she and her sister against her brother and father. And as for her time with Michelle, spending time with her is one of her “favorite things.”

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Michelle, who grew up an Air Force kid, is now a realtor for West and Main Homes. Having moved around so much with Andrew and her family, she developed a knack for making every place home and invariably became a people person, too. And that’s one thing Lauren loves about her mother. “My mom is one of the most amazing people to talk to. When you’re having a hard day, I can just sit and have a two-, three-hour talk with her,” the Bruins center revealed.

Lauren’s NCAA career highlights

Many colleges, including UCLA, UConn, Notre Dame, Oregon, and South Carolina, made offers to her, but she decided to play collegiate basketball for Stanford. However, she later transferred to UCLA after one season when Stanford was eliminated early from the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Prioritizing her transfer, Lauren participated in 33 of the team’s 35 games during the 2022–2023 season, averaging 5.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Lauren made her name in the sport by becoming the No.1 college basketball recruit for the Class of 2022 and an Under-19 Team USA member. She continues to add NCAA honors to her portfolio. In her most recent match to qualify for the Sweet 16, the Bruins overcame the Bluejays, 67-63. Betts’ lay-ins and putbacks made up the majority of their points. She finished the first quarter with 12 points. After forcing Morgan Maly to miss a 3-point shot, the Bruins got Betts to pass for a layup and a 50–50 tie, establishing herself as a top prospect.

Lauren Betts is a promising individual on the basketball court and has essentially found her way through hardships, learning from her parents’ rich athletic background.

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