It’s easy to assume that Juju Watkins, who is widely considered the best player in the NCAA and who both the media and fans believe will replace the void left by the late Caitlin Clark, will have a significant impact on collegiate basketball by the time she’s done. Watkins has performed exceptionally well throughout her career, and the USC Trojans have followed suit. Coaches and the media have already named the Los Angeles native the preseason ‘Player of the Year’ in advance of the 2024–2025 campaign.
Watkins is giving the skeptics little opportunity to argue against her talent as her reputation continues to grow significantly with each passing season. The 6’2″ American will undoubtedly soon be considered a generational basketball player.
Watkins is giving the skeptics little opportunity to argue against her talent as her reputation continues to grow significantly with each passing season. The 6’2″ American will undoubtedly soon be considered a generational basketball player.
Basketball career in high school for Juju Watkins
Watkins has been winning titles and shattering records since high school. Sports Illustrated named Watkins the ‘SportsKid’ of the year in 2020 following an outstanding high school campaign. Her coaches have always showered the tall ‘baller with praise. Watkins’ high school boys’ basketball coach, Colin Pfaff, went on record to distinguish her from her peers. “I think that’s the best player I’ve ever seen.” He said “We merely marveled at the appearance of an Olympian. She was simply instilling a respect for women’s basketball in young lads her age.
Watkins led her team to the Southern Open Division title game and the regional final as a freshman, averaging 21 points and nine rebounds per game. The Player of the Year award was also confirmed for her.
As Watkins, who is now 19 years old, progressed through her high school career, her form improved steadily. She averaged 12 rebounds and 27 points per game in her sophomore year. For Watkins, things truly began to come together when she entered her junior year of high school. As a junior, she guided her team to a 30-2 record to the Open Division state championship. Watkins received the Player of the Year award once more. As her career progresses, gathering silverware might become into something of a ritual.
For Watkins, the 2022 season stands out as a career high point. The talented teenager helped Sierra Canyon win the title by scoring a career-high 60 points in the final Southern Open Division. Each game, the point guard averaged an incredible 27.3 points, 13.8 rebounds, and little more than three assists.
There was a lot of speculation about which college Watkins would sign for her first NCAA basketball season after she was once again named Player of the Year. ESPN also ranked the ‘baller as the top target player to sign with a college team. A following battle ensued to get her to sign a contract with the college. Despite obtaining offers from South Carolina and Stanford, she ultimately committed to the USC Trojans in 2022.
What has Juju Watkins’ collegiate basketball career been like thus far?
In 2023, Watkins made her collegiate debut for the USC Trojans, scoring 32 points in an upset victory over Ohio State. Watkins established even another record with his 32 points against the opposition. She broke basketball legend Lisa Leslie’s record for most points in a rookie debut, which had remarkably been in place since 1990.
Watkins destroyed a number of established records that season, including that one. Watkins broke the rookie scoring record in a match against the Connecticut Huskies, even though his team lost. Tina Hutchison had held the record, which had stood at 29 points since 1984. Watkins finished with 920 points at the end of the season, making him the first rookie in the division to earn more than 900 points.
Watkins was named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Associated All-America team, so accolades were in store for her once more. She received the 2023 Division One Freshman of the Year award in addition to the WBCA distinction.
Has Juju Watkins played for the United States?
The strikingly tall point guard has only played for the United States at the young level thus far, but she has won two gold medals for the country with remarkable success. At the U16s Americas Championship in Mexico, Watkins captured her first gold medal as a member of the United States. She won tournament MVP after averaging 20 points and more than five rebounds per game. Watkins averaged 13 points per game and won a gold medal in the U17 World Cup in Hungary. He was also awarded MVP. It’s reasonable to assume that this gifted child is already accustomed to winning gold medals.
What does Juju Watkins’ future hold?
In addition to being acknowledged as the NCAA’s top player, the college basketball Trojan star seemed destined to take Clark’s place as the sport’s departing legend. Lindsay Gottlieb, the coach at USC, maintains that it’s crucial to steer clear of direct analogies, though: “Oh, whoever we think Caitlin is she’s Steph Curry JuJu is more like Kobe or Michael Jordan,” is an example of an easy comparison. You are free to draw those parallels, but in my opinion, doing so practically detracts from their distinctiveness as athletes, particularly female athletes.
Watkins is not only creating history on the court but also in the business world of basketball. With the signing of a huge, record-breaking contract with Nike, Watkins will have “one of the richest shoe endorsement deals in women’s basketball history.” As the USC Trojans and Watkins approach the 2024–2025 season, it will undoubtedly be a season that defines their careers. Her admirers and fellow ‘ballers will be honored to watch her talent blossom in front of us.
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