JuJu Watkins Shines as USC Trojans Soar: With the King in the house, USC’s rising basketball star, JuJu Watkins, dominated the court. In a commanding 85-53 victory over UC Riverside at Galen Center on Sunday, the freshman sensation continued her stellar debut season, contributing 27 points on 10-of-16 shooting, along with five assists and five steals. Watkins came within three points of breaking Cheryl Miller’s USC record for consecutive 30-point games, currently set at three.
Rayah Marshall recorded an impressive double-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks. The Trojans (8-0) harnessed the energy of a doubleheader with the USC men’s team, featuring Bronny James’ debut. Lakers star LeBron James, present to watch his son play 16 minutes in USC’s overtime loss to Long Beach State, stayed in his courtside seat as Watkins led her team onto the court.
The freshman sensation gave the NBA champion something to celebrate, propelling the Trojans to a 32-point lead at halftime. As James exited through the USC tunnel, Watkins showcased five made field goals, just one less than Riverside (4-4) managed as a team.
Led by two Los Angeles natives, the Trojans achieved their highest ranking in the Associated Press poll since 1994. Drawing their second 4,000-strong crowd this season signals a shift for the historically dormant program.
“I get chills thinking about what my vision was in coming here,” said USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb. “Obviously, I never envisioned exactly like all the characters and things that were at play today, but you envision doing something special. Really, to have a large portion of that crowd that maybe has never seen us play, we are changing a culture here.”
Gottlieb credited her players for giving fans a reason to return, with the main attraction being the opportunity to witness Watkins in action.
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Already a four-time Pac-12 freshman of the week, Watkins added the conference’s top player honor last week. Ranking second nationally in scoring with 27.3 points per game, she trails only Iowa star Caitlin Clark. Watkins holds the USC record for 30-point games as a freshman, with five in just eight games, and entered with three consecutive such performances. It seems likely that Watkins will soon claim Miller’s record of consecutive 30-point performances.
Watkins’ impact wasn’t limited to the offensive end on Sunday. She fell just one steal short of her career best and contributed two blocks. With 16 steals to her name, twice as many as her teammate Marshall’s eight, Watkins showcased her all-around skills.
Marshall, the first call Gottlieb made when hired in 2021, is reaping the rewards of her loyalty to her hometown. The 6-foot-4 forward from Lynwood High and McDonald’s All-American is only beginning to see the positive changes in the program.
“It’s an honor to be here and just watch how she’s really turned this program around in the matter of three years,” Marshall said. “The talent we’re bringing in. I feel like the sky’s really the limit. We’re really just getting started.”
After Sunday’s game, Watkins lingered near the stands, taking selfies with fans and signing autographs. The Trojans could get used to this sight.
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The 2023-24 USC Trojans men’s basketball squad secured a crucial victory against Stanford, thanks to the standout play of junior forward Kobe Johnson. Johnson notched a season-high 21 points in the game, topping his previous high of 14 points in the match against Cal.