USC Women's Basketball: JuJu Watkins Impressed NCAA Coaches from Day 1

The All-American freshman star's play earned her believers quickly.

Mar 25, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) and McKenzie Forbes (25) celebrate. / Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Superstar USC Trojans freshman shooting guard JuJu Watkins made an instant impression on both her own coach and rival coaches from her very first game of the 2023-24 season, writes Talia Goodman of On3.

Even during her first conditioning practices with the Cardinal and Gold, the 6-foot-2 Sierra Canyon School product was going full-tilt.

“I was like, okay, we have a chance to be really good,” head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said of her reaction to Watkins' early practices. “Because if your most talented player cares enough to do that during a conditioning test, that’s really, really good.”

During the first contest of 2023-24, a national TV bout against the No. 7-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on November 6, Watkins came out swinging. She poured in 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting from the floor (1-of-2 shooting from deep) and 9-of-10 shooting from the charity stripe, six rebounds, five assists, one steal and a block.

“I knew at some point she was gonna be really, really special,” Buckeyes head coach Kevin McGuff reflected. “And I guess we got the answer to that on day one. She was really, really special. I think that game kind of set the tone for her season.” 

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