With Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese moving to the WNBA, there is no more prominent figure in college basketball than USC Trojans standout JuJu Watkins. During her freshman year at USC, Watkins shattered multiple records and posted remarkable statistics. And prior to her sophomore season, JuJu Watkins was training with former USC Trojans star DeMar DeRozan.
In a clip shared on social media by DeMar DeRozan and subsequently featured by BallIsLife, JuJu Watkins was observed receiving tips on shooting face-up jump shots in the midrange. Since joining the NBA, DeRozan has evolved into one of the premier midrange shooters in the league.
Incorporating a reliable midrange and pull-up jumper will be devastating for Watkins’s offensive skill set. She’s already nearly impossible to defend on the court, and this will make her even more uncontainable.
The Trojans’ lineup is bolstered, welcoming several high-profile transfers including potential 2025 No. 1 WNBA Draft selection Kiki Iriafen and Talia von Oelhoffen, in addition to a skilled group of seven freshmen.
JuJu Watkins gearing up for significant sophomore season with USC
As the 2024-25 college basketball season commences, JuJu Watkins will undoubtedly be one of the most followed and discussed players. She has injected a level of excitement and visibility into the USC women’s basketball team that hasn’t been witnessed in quite some time.
The Trojans’ program has seen many legendary players pass through their ranks, including the likes of Cheryl Miller, Cynthia Cooper, Lisa Leslie, Tina Thompson, and Paula and Pam McGee. However, if Watkins’ freshman campaign is any indicator, she could emerge as the finest of them all.
In her freshman year, Watkins participated in 34 games for USC, averaging just over 34 minutes per game. She posted averages of 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.6 blocks, with shooting splits of 40.1 percent from the field, 31.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 85.2 percent from the charity stripe.
With Watkins leading the charge, the Trojans progressed to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament, marking their most significant achievement since the 1993-94 season.
Thanks to the WNBA’s CBA, which mandates that college athletes either be 22 years old or have completed their degree from a four-year institution before the WNBA Draft, or three months post-draft, Trojans supporters can exhale knowing they’ll see Watkins in a USC uniform for three more years.
Image Source: JuJu Watkins @ Instagram
