“Such an adjustment from high school to college”: JuJu Watkins talks about successful freshman year with USC
JuJu Watkins had one of the strongest freshman seasons in women's college basketball history. She joined the USC Trojans fresh off winning the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award and lived up to the excitement that accompanied her to So Cal last season.
Ahead of her sophomore season, Watkins graced the October cover story for Boardroom, a sports, media and entertainment brand co-founded by four-time NBA champion Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman.
The 2024 National Freshman of the Year discussed her transition from high school to college basketball and the lessons she learned in her freshman season.
"It was just such an adjustment from high school to college," Watkins said. "In general, I think for any student, for any athlete, that's the same. A lot of last year was just, the first time for everything for me.
"I think the biggest thing is longevity, kind of maintaining the same mentality, making sure my body is prepared, just staying locked in and making sure that my team and we're on the same page as well."
JuJu Watkins earns Preseason All-America honors ahead of sophomore season
JuJu Watkins is one of three sophomores named to AP's Preseason All-America team. Notably, she and UConn’s Paige Bueckers were the only two players to earn unanimous selections.
Watkins also made the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List, highlighting her potential to retain one of the several individual awards she won last season.
Last year, Watkins burst onto the college basketball scene, leading the Trojans' run to the Elite Eight in March Madness. Her 27.1 points per game ranked second in the country, and she set a national record for the most points scored by a freshman (920).
Watkins also averaged 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 34 starts, earning unanimous First-Team All-American honors. She also finished as a finalist for the Naismith Trophy, the Wade Trophy and the Honda Award. She also won the ESPY for Best Breakthrough Athlete.
This month, Watkins scored big in the NIL scene, signing massive deals with Nike, Gatorade and Nyx Professional Makeup. She will be keen to continue her strong form into her sophomore season, which will begin on Nov. 4 with a game against the Ole Miss Rebels in Paris.