Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts revealed that he almost quit playing baseball to pursue a college basketball career.
At five feet, nine inches, Betts is relatively undersized for a professional athlete, but he has never let that stop him from thriving in sports.
He was a high school basketball and baseball player, thriving in both and attracting the attention of schools that wanted him to play college ball.
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Betts committed to play baseball for the Tennessee Volunteers before entering the MLB Draft and was selected by the Boston Red Sox.
During a live stream with Adin Ross, Betts revealed that he almost gave up on baseball during his time in the minor leagues and considered pursuing a college basketball career, going so far as to schedule his ACT to apply to college.
He ended up staying on the baseball path after having a great game the day before he was supposed to take the ACT, taking it as a sign to remain on the diamond.
Even though he is under six feet, Betts is known for being a quick athlete with explosiveness and bounce. During an interview with All The Smoke, the shortstop described his basketball game.
“I probably averaged, like, 14 points a game,” Betts said. “I almost averaged a double-double. So I really controlled the game. I’m not out there — I’m nowhere near a star, by no means.
“Like, I can control the offense. I’m not gonna lose it. I won’t win it, but I will put it in the man’s hands that will win it. I guarantee you that. So if you need it, I’ll do all the dirty work, and I got you.
“So I got hoop with Brandon Miller a couple times when he was in high school, and then right before college, and like, that was right up my alley.
“All I gotta do is bring it up the court. Give it to me and I’ll give it to him and I’ll play defense. So really, I was just more athletic and better than everyone in my area. So that’s where that came from.”
Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
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