The following feature appeared in the June 21, 2019 Volume 2, Issue 21 edition of the SCoop, Siena College's semi-monthly e-newsletter

Lala Watts turns 20 on December 6. Although maybe it's December 3? Could it be December 8? She's not sure. 

Lala's mother died during childbirth. She assumes. Though the details are about as reliable as her birthdate. What she does know is that days after she was born, her mom was dead, and an aunt or grandmother drove across Nigeria to find her father. She was dropped off without any official record of her birth - and then handed over to her paternal grandmother to be raised. At the time, her future mom was just nine years old, living on the other side of the world.

Lala was spotted, while walking to the market one day, by a local basketball coach. She was 13 and had never held a basketball in her life. But she was tall, and as coaches often say, you can't teach height. Within a couple of years, the scouting report reached across the Atlantic. 

The 6'3" Nigerian was recruited to play basketball for a private school in Georgia and assigned to a foster family. The basketball was great, home life was not. Once in the middle of the night, Lala was jarred awake by ice-cold water as it was being poured on her head. There was a dirty dish in the sink, and Lala was ordered to wash it. The dish wasn't hers, but all cleaning became her responsibility. It was abuse, and she needed out. Fortunately, an American friend knew of a woman in Kentucky who was able to help. On one day's notice, Alexis Bryant drove to Georgia and took Lala away.

Alexis had fostered a child before, and was happy to provide Lala a more nurturing environment. But, the move to Kentucky (and the transition from a private school to public) was in violation of Lala's visa. She had two options - return to Nigeria (potentially forever) or be adopted. So, Alexis, who's only nine years older than Lala, got a judge to sign the paperwork with only weeks to spare. One year before, in Georgia, Lala got nothing for Christmas. Nothing. Twelve months later, she had a mom, sisters -- and her room was filled with so many Christmas gifts, she could barely make it from the door to the bed. 

Lala originally committed to play basketball for Western Kentucky. But, she decommitted (the coach wasn't the right fit), and through a connection, ended up on Siena's radar. When Lala was adopted, she got to choose her last name. It was originally Oweiyegha, her father's name. But, she had a hard time imagining that on the back of a college jersey. So, she switched to Watts, her new mother's maiden name. Watts, #21, appeared in 27 games as a freshman this past season for the Saints.

"I didn't know what life would be like in the United States," said Watts. "I'm the first person from my family to play basketball. My coming here - my life has been way better. I really like it at Siena. It ended up being my number one option. I like the size of the school, I like the diversity. It's just a fun and friendly environment." 

Lala's first name is Tobulayefa which, as a child, was shortened to Layefa. She shortened it once more when she came to the U.S. Her adopted mother, Alexis, recently married Lala's Kentucky basketball coach, Wesley Bryant.