Carlos Boozer drops 2 word reaction for JuJu Watkins’ impressive display vs Ole Miss
JuJu Watkins had a noteworthy performance in USC's 68-66 victory against Ole Miss to begin the season on Monday night, drawing praise from former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer.
Watkins had a double-double performance of 27 points and 10 rebounds as she played the entire game. She also added five blocks and four assists to her stat line, getting assistance from Kiki Iriafen via a 22-point, 13-rebound double-double.
After the game, Boozer took to social media to react to the USC star's performance, posting a story on Instagram. He only needed two words to sum up his thoughts.
Too cold 🥶," Boozer said.
Carlos Boozer played 13 years in the NBA, playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Lakers throughout his career. He averaged 16.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, being named an All-Star twice in 2007 and 2008 and an All-NBA player in 2008.
Knowing what it was like to be a top player for his team during his time in the NBA, Boozer gave Watkins the recognition he believed she deserved due to her performance on the court on the opening day of college basketball.
JuJu Watkins's journey to national recognition and expectations with USC this year
JuJu Watkins is coming off a breakout 2023-24 campaign where she averaged 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game in 34 appearances. She led the Lady Trojans to a 29-6 record, winning the Pac-12 Championship and getting as far as the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before falling 80-73 to UConn.
With Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese no longer in the picture of women's college basketball as they were drafted to the WNBA earlier this year, it would be fair to believe that many eyes will be on Watkins, who is seen as one of the top players in the sport. With the talent she displays on both sides of the ball and her team's success, the potential that both parties have would be rightfully high in the eyes of basketball observers.
After beating Ole Miss, JuJu Watkins and USC will prepare for a matchup against Cal Poly Mustangs on Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. ET.