Fans in Disbelief Over 7-Foot-2 College Basketball Recruit
The college basketball season wrapped up with a thrilling NCAA Tournament Final Four, where the Florida Gators emerged as national champions. Since the final buzzer, however, the headlines have shifted quickly — first dominated by transfer portal buzz and now turning toward high school recruiting.
And speaking of big stories, one of the most talked-about names this summer is quite literally towering over the competition.
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Meet Dylan Betts, a 7-foot-2 high school freshman phenom who's turning heads at summer basketball events across the country. At just 15 years old, Betts has already stunned fans and scouts with his size, skill and presence on the court.
Social media exploded after a clip surfaced showing Purdue Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter smiling courtside during one of Betts' games.
"The cut to a smiling Matt Painter watching a 7'2 kid is the greatest mixtape cinematography I've ever seen," was posted in response to the video here.
This UCLA fan wants Betts in a Bruins uniform: "UCLA gotta offer Dylan Betts a scholarship ASAP to continue the Betts to UCLA pipeline"
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Matt Painter being at the event to see Betts did not surprise this fan: "Painter locking in pole position in the recruitment for a 7'2 freshman. Purdue's not going anywhere!"
"Of course Painter is there also the Betts family genes are insane," mentioned here.
"From Cherry Creek here in Denver. You'll be hearing about him and his two sisters for a while," a fan familiar with the Betts family posted.
This fan joked: "What they feeding these Betts kids in Colorado? Sheesh!"
The March Madness logo means it's NCAA Tournament time.Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Painter may be excited about the prospect of recruiting another transcendent big man to replace Zach Edey, the 7-4 center who won two consecutive Naismith National Player of the Year awards and led Purdue to the 2024 national title game. Edey now plays for the Memphis Grizzlies.
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Painter wasn't the only college coach in attendance, but he seemed particularly focused on the towering Cherry Creek High School standout. Betts, who has already drawn early interest from the UNLV Runnin' Rebels and Washington Huskies, has shown strong post play and touch around the basket, while developing range away from the paint.
The Class of 2028 recruit was invited to the USA Basketball Junior National Team minicamp in San Antonio this April — an honor reserved for just 65 athletes nationwide. When asked about the opportunity, Betts reflected on what it meant:
'It means a lot to me. Definitely, it's very hard to be selected. Lots of good competition out here. You've got to be confident and not be scared of anybody.'
Dylan isn't the only Betts making waves on the hardwood. His older sister, Lauren, played a key role in leading the UCLA Bruins to the Final Four this past season. Another sister, Sienna, is also heading to UCLA this fall to continue the family legacy.
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The Betts family has deep basketball roots. Their father, Andrew Betts, played at Long Beach State before being selected in the second round of the 1998 NBA draft.
With basketball in his blood and sky-high potential, Dylan Betts is quickly becoming one of the most buzzed-about names in the future of college hoops.
Related: No. 1 College Basketball Recruit's Father Almost Brought to Tears by Kentucky's Mark Pope
Related: No. 1 College Basketball Recruit Makes Decision Before Senior Season
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