Watts, a native of Columbia, played his high school ball at Improve High School, where he made the all-state team for two years while his dad, John Watts, was the coach. He signed with Ole Miss, but quit the team. 

Former University of Southern Mississippi Coach Lee Floyd wanted him to play at USM, but he had to sit out, so Floyd sent the 6-foot-5 Watts to Pearl River, where he starred as the center. "We were as good as anybody in our league," said Watts. "We had Bull Parish, Glynn Kerley, Sam Clinton. We worked hard. We had good team work. Going to school there was one of the best things I did. I thoroughly enjoyed it."

Watts went on to play three years for Floyd at USM. He is retired today after some 38 years in education, starting with two years in Purvis. He spent the rest of the time in Florida, including 10 years as a coach in Chipley and 22 years as a principal in Lake City, before retiring with his wife, Barbara, of 51 years, to Hattiesburg.