At five-foot-nine, Mookie Betts never looked like someone built for professional sports. That has not stopped him from becoming one of baseball’s best all-around players.
Before the Red Sox scooped him up in the draft, Betts had already committed to Tennessee for baseball. But there is another layer to his story that often gets overlooked.
Long before he was tracking down fly balls in Dodger blue, Betts ran the point for John Overton High in Nashville, and apparently, he was pretty good at it.
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The shortstop earned District 12-AAA tournament MVP as a junior, then followed that up with league MVP honors his senior year. In a Nashville public-school system stacked with talent, Betts climbed all the way to Class AAA All-City Player of the Year.
That is surely elite recognition in a city that produces real hoopers. During an appearance on All The Smoke, Betts talked about how his game would’ve looked if baseball hadn’t taken over.
“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,” Betts said.
Mookie Betts revealed he almost quit baseball to play collge basketball 🤯
“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…I won’t win it, but I will put it in the man’s hands that will win it. I… pic.twitter.com/fjuEPTh5zk
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) December 26, 2025
Betts was lean, pass-first, and trusted to manage tempo and decision-making. College programs noticed his multi-sport profile, intrigued by a guard whose quickness and competitiveness traveled across fields. Eventually, baseball’s upside became too big to ignore.
Overton High School’s Mookie Betts, is a standout in bowling, basketball and baseball which makes for a rare combination of sports. Mandatory Credit: George Walk IV/The Tennessean-USA TODAY NETWORK
Even now, you can see the basketball DNA in his game. His first step in the outfield mirrors a guard’s controlled burst. His footwork stays flawless under pressure.
And when October rolls around, Betts operates with the same calm a floor general brings in crunch time.
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