Sienna Betts Talks About Her High School Domination Before Heading To UCLA Next Year
When asked how this story should begin, Sienna Betts was surprised as she prepared her answer. He emphasized how important one year is in his journey. In the 7th grade, Betts decided to leave football and focus on his true love of basketball. “Something changed, and I realized what I wanted to do,” he says. The desire to be better pushed him to understand what it takes to become one of the greats. “If I want to be successful in basketball, I have to focus.” It was an important moment that would define the next year for him as he began training.
He just needed to be in the right place with the right people. Sienna's coach, Derek Griffin, saw potential in her at a young age, and challenged her to see that the school of her dreams, UCLA, was more than she could do. “He made me see what I could be in the future and he brought me to that,” he said.
During the pandemic, Betts was in the gym every day, working on his game from every angle. As an 8th grader, he practiced with Colorado royalty: Raegan Beers, Sam Crispe and his older sister Lauren.
The amount of praise Sienna and Lauren have brought to their country is amazing. At Grandview High School, they have delivered two state championships and four Gatorade Player of the Year awards. With Lauren currently at UCLA and Sienna committed to the program, the future duo is sure to do amazing things together in Westwood.
How does Sienna evaluate her game? “I would describe my game as flexible, high IQ, and special,” he said. “My whole purpose [in the game] I don't care about my stats or anything like that [that]. Whatever I can do to win, that's what I'm going to focus on.”
From improving her handles to her strong footwork, Sienna has found her rhythm and she hasn't stopped. The way to success has been to keep his feet planted in the moment and keep his confidence—because he's prepared for this. In about a year, Sienna came off the bench to become a standout player and lead in all statistical categories of the Hardwood Elite club team.
Speaking about Sienna's year as an all-around basketball player, Michelle Betts, her mother, says, “She wanted to do it, so she did it.” Painting a picture of that moment back in 7th grade, Michelle remembers Sienna saying, I don't want to just be the girl who comes in to play defense and block shots. I want to be a great player.“
He became just that. Michelle says: “Suddenly, all the things she said she wanted to do, she was able to do and then she did more.” “He went to work and became all the things he wanted to be, which I think is an amazing thing.”
The outpouring of support for Sienna has encouraged her. He says: “My father sends me a message to remind me before every game. His latest post before the FIBA AmeriCup Championship was: Just run down, tie up again, I love you so much. You are amazing. The impact of the text was great. “I repeat this to get it in my head, and during the game and halftime, I repeat it to myself,” Sienna said.
As a gold medalist, two-time Gatorade Player of the Year and state champion, the 7th grader who made the decision to take basketball seriously and is now the best post player in the country simply “plays my game.”
“I worked to be here,” Betts said. “I have to be confident in what I do.”
Photos by Garrett Ellwood.
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