Year: 2024
Award: Basketball, College
Location/Affiliation: Grandview High School / UCLA
- All Pac-12
- WNBA First Round Prospect
What Lauren Betts did during an accolade-laden career at Grandview was simply a prelude to her dominance on the Division I stage. As a sophomore at UCLA during the 23-24 season, she emerged as a force in the middle earning All Pac-12 honors while helping the Bruins to Elite 8 in the NCAA Tournament.
The 6-foot-7 center took another huge leap forward during the 24-25 season, now as a junior, while asserting herself as one of the top players in the country. Double-doubles have become commonplace as teams routinely have no answer for her polished play in the post. If she were to turn pro at the end of this season – all indications are she’ll stay at UCLA for one more year to team up with her sister, incoming freshman Sienna Betts – she would be a first-round selection in the WNBA Draft, and likely a Top 5 pick.
Lauren Betts, one of the best Division I players in the country and our 2024 honoree in college basketball.
