This story seems in SLAM 251. Get your copy now.
When requested how this story ought to begin, Sienna Betts was somewhat shocked as she ready her reply. She emphasised how necessary one particular yr was to her journey. In seventh grade, Betts determined to stroll away from soccer and deal with her true ardour for basketball. “One thing switched, and I spotted what I wished to do,” she says. The eagerness to be higher pushed her to know what was wanted in an effort to be one of many greats. “If I need to achieve basketball, I have to focus.” It was a pivotal second that will outline the subsequent yr for her as she started coaching.
All it took was for her to be in the suitable place with the suitable folks. Sienna’s coach, Derek Griffin, noticed potential in her at an early age, difficult her to see that her dream faculty, UCLA, was greater than potential. “He made me understand what I might probably change into sooner or later and he introduced me to that,” she says.
Through the pandemic, Betts would keep within the fitness center day in and day trip, engaged on her recreation from each angle. As an eighth grader, she was practising with Colorado royalty: Raegan Beers, Sam Crispe and, after all, her older sister Lauren.
The quantity of accolades Sienna and Lauren have dropped at their residence state is outstanding. At Grandview Excessive Faculty, they delivered two state championships and 4 Gatorade Participant of the 12 months awards. With Lauren presently at UCLA and Sienna dedicated to this system, the long run duo is sure to do unimaginable issues collectively in Westwood.
How does Sienna scout her personal recreation? “I might describe my recreation as versatile, excessive IQ, and specialised,” she says. “My complete aim [in the game] is I don’t care about my stats or something like [that]. No matter I can do for a win, that’s what I’m going to deal with.”
From the event of her handles to her robust footwork, Sienna has discovered her rhythm and has but to let up. The recipe for fulfillment has been to maintain her toes planted within the second and keep her confidence—as a result of she has ready for this. In a yr’s time, Sienna went from a job participant off the bench to main in each statistical class for the Hardwood Elite membership staff.
Talking in regards to the yr Sienna went all-in on basketball, Michelle Betts, her mom, says, “She wished to do it, so she did it.” Portray the image of that second again in seventh grade, Michelle remembers Sienna saying, I don’t need to simply be the woman who goes in to play protection and blocks photographs. I need to be an awesome participant.”
She grew to become simply that. “Abruptly, all of the issues she stated she wished to do, she might do them after which some,” Michelle says. “She went and grinded and have become all of the issues she wished to change into, which I feel is unimaginable.”
The outpouring of help for Sienna has fueled her. “My dad sends me a reminder textual content earlier than each recreation,” she says. His most up-to-date textual content earlier than the FIBA AmeriCup Championship was: Simply run the ground, rebound, I really like you a lot. You’re wonderful. The influence of the textual content was big. “I repeat this to get it in my head, and all through the sport and halftime, I repeat it to myself,” Sienna says.
As a gold medalist, two-time Gatorade Participant of the 12 months and state champion, the seventh grader who made the choice to take basketball significantly and is now the highest publish participant within the nation is solely “simply enjoying my recreation.”
“I’ve labored to be right here,” Betts says. “I ought to have faith in what I do.”
Portraits by way of Garrett Ellwood.
