USC Trojans freshman JuJu Watkins passes legend Cheryl Miller for the single-season scoring report with 833 factors.
USC freshman phenomenon JuJu Watkins has shined in her first yr within the Trojans, amassing all kinds of private accolades. Having a profound impact on this system, Watkins and the Trojans are headed to their first Candy 16 because the 1993-1994 season.
The irony in all this? In 1994, WNBA stars Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson had been key members of the crew, whereas USC standout Cheryl Miller briefly served as head coach.
And now, Watkins handed Miller for the USC Trojan’s all-time single scoring report in her first season. Whereas there is a magnitude of expertise, particularly amongst freshmen in NCAA Ladies’s basketball, Watkins has set the stage to turn into the following generational star. Proper entrance and middle, Cheryl Miller has been her no. 1 supporter and mentor by all of it.
JUJU WATKINS 👏Broke the USC freshman report for many factors scored in a season!
Final 8 Games30 PTS, 3 BLK, 3 STL42 PTS, 4 STL18 PTS, 11 REB33 PTS, 8 AST, 4 STL32 PTS, 7 AST, 4 BLK31 PTS, 7 REB29 PTS, 4 STL51 PTS, 11 REB
VIDEO: @btweenxthelinespic.twitter.com/Q6uYl5Bth5
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 26, 2024
And also you like to see former trailblazers who paved the way in which by serving to younger stars within the sport right now. Watkins is stuffed with toughness, and grit, and has what it takes to be nice. Though she’s in direction of the start of her journey, she’s a rising star within the sport. Whereas a number of legendary athletes are inclined to disappear after their careers, it is unimaginable to see the involvement and religion Miller has within the USC program and Watkins.
Calling Miller the “goat,” Watkins mirrored on the Icon after their first-round victory.
“She trusts in my mentality,” Watkins instructed the media by way of March Insanity PR. “I feel we’re comparable in some methods, so far as the competitiveness to need to win. She’s all the time inspired that, and inspired me by no means to lose that.” (March Insanity PR)
Watkins broke a number of USC data in her freshman marketing campaign
What’s to not love about Watkins? Not solely did she assist lead her crew previous Stanford for the Pac-12 Championship, however no. 12 continues to interrupt each USC report. She had an unforgettable 51-point efficiency towards Stanford, which despatched shockwaves throughout the basketball world. In that matchup, Watkins grew to become the primary Trojan to ever rating 51 factors in a sport.
Associated article: Rising Star: Freshman JuJu Watkins stuns with 51-point efficiency
Whereas she had a season-low 9 factors within the convention championship, her impression of simply showing on the courtroom is profound. It is her innate means to fill the field rating in different methods, and her maturity to deal with stress at such a younger age.
Averaging 26.9 factors, 7.3 rebounds, and three.3 assists in her first yr, the LA native is bringing pleasure again to Los Angeles. Below coach Lindsay Gottlieb, USC punched their strategy to a second consecutive NCAA look, breaking an eight-year drought for this system. Though the Trojans had transient first and second-round exits underneath coach Cynthia Cooper and Mark Trakh, Watkins and Gottlieb are brewing one thing particular. There’s one thing to be mentioned about “JuJu and the nerds.” Gottlieb has constructed a a drive of expertise round Watkins, which incorporates Harvard switch McKenzie Forbes.
With USC making headlines, Watkins was named AP All-American first crew. She was honored subsequent to Caitlin Clark (Iowa), Paige Bueckers (UConn), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), and Cameron Brink (Stanford). That in itself speaks volumes.
She passes Cheryl Miller for the all-time USC single-season scoring report
833 complete factors is nothing to smell at. Whereas the headlines have primarily surrounded different athletes in girls’s basketball, it is Watkins and the upcoming freshman that can outline the evolution and progress of ladies’s hoops sooner or later. FurthWatkins completed her sensational freshman marketing campaign with the third most factors amongst freshmen in NCAA historical past. She trailed solely Kelsey Mitchell from Ohio State, who scored 873 factors, and Tina Hutchinson from San Diego State, who’s the all-time chief.
Getting into the NCAA event because the no. 1 seed for the primary time since 1986, the Trojans confronted the no. 16-seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi within the Regional 3 in Portland. Limiting AMCC to simply 4 factors within the first quarter, it was Watkins that led the way in which with 23 factors, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Though she was chilly past the arc, she was computerized from the midrange. Her means to move up the rock on quick breaks and drive to the basketball is a staple of her sport. With a uniqueness to her offensive sport, Watkins is difficult to be stopped anyplace on the courtroom. The second main scoring within the nation, she’s a strolling bucket, and it extends properly past the arc.
Watkins and USC are headed to the Candy 16
Whereas Watkins has proven a number of MVP-esque performances this season, JuJu Watkins continues to indicate why she makes a two-way impression on the sport. Many will argue the expertise hole was monumental between the 2 groups. Nonetheless, 4 blocks and two steals is a press release, and the Trojans had 14 mixed steals and blocks as a crew.
JuJu Watkins poses with Bianka and Capri Bryant after breaking USC’s single season scoring report
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— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 24, 2024
On Monday evening, it was Watkins’s double-double efficiency that lifted USC over Kansas 73-55 within the spherical of 32. This time round, she showcased her full abilities on the courtroom. Her means to maneuver round screens from the three-point line, and drive by site visitors was stellar. A real versatile three-way scorer, Watkins was blowing by the defenses within the paint. Her dominance was so efficient on the offensive finish, Kansas was compelled to modify to a zone protection. She completed with 28 factors, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and two steals.
For Watkins and her teammates, it is all about confidence transferring ahead within the NCAA Match.
JuJu Watkins key to victory: having confidence
“It is essential to trust,” mentioned Watkins. “I’ve numerous confidence on this crew. It is lots on the road. However on the finish of the day, I belief my teammates and I are going to get the job performed.” I did not know what to anticipate. Nonetheless do not actually know what to anticipate. I am simply right here for the trip, figuring out what I have to do each sport. I am simply going to provide all I can, and hopefully, that ends with the end result that we would like.” ( March Insanity PR)
Watkins cannot be stopped, and most groups have run into this subject on the defensive entrance. A drive to be reckoned with, the USC Trojans are a no.1. seed for a motive. Becoming a member of Iowa, South Carolina, and Texas as the highest seeds within the nation, Watkins has was it takes to energy her crew to a deep run within the event. With 16 remaining groups, the Trojans will face off towards no.1 Baylors on Saturday, Mar. 30.
In the event that they survive towards the Bears, USC has a shot of dealing with both Connecticut or Duke within the elite eight. With South Carolina displaying they’re as soon as once more the crew to beat, how far of a run can USC make? Both manner, Watkins is poised and prepared for the second.
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content material Creator, and Social Media Supervisor for Ballislife Bets. She has a concentrate on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane presently resides within the Connecticut/NYC space along with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate diploma from the College of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in enterprise administration.
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