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JuJu Watkins Receives On-Court Mentoring From NBA All-Star
JuJu Watkins is in the lab with an NBA icon before her sophomore season at USC begins.
University of Southern California (USC) Trojans guard JuJu Watkins is looking to become the NCAA’s best female college basketball player next season.
Despite being a freshman last year, Watkins’ 27.1 points per game was second in the NCAA, trailing only former Iowa Hawkeye and current Indiana Fever icon Caitlin Clark.
Watkins led the Women of Troy to the Elite Eight of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, where they met Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies.
Watkins still finished that game with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Yet, UConn still secured a 80-73 victory over USC.
Although USC will get an opportunity to redeem themselves next season, as they face UConn again on December 21.
And Watkins was seen preparing for that game (and the rest of her sophomore season) alongside NBA superstar DeMar DeRozan on Thursday.
DeRozan, who was born and raised in Compton, California (right outside of Los Angeles), posted a video of him and Watkins putting work in at USC’s stadium on his Instagram story Thursday.
DeRozan is a six-time NBA All-Star and USC legend. The shooting guard played for the Trojans from 2008-09, won the 2009 Pac-10 Tournament MVP, and had his No. 10 retired by USC in 2020.
Now DeRozan is imparting his wisdom onto another Trojans icon.
Given that USC is keeping its top superstar for at least two more seasons and added former Oregon State player Talia Von Oelhoffen during the offseason, they’ll likely be among the favorites to win the Big 10 Conference.
What’s for sure is that Watkins will be on a short list of players expected to compete for the 2024-25 Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year award.
JuJu Watkins works out with NBA mid-range master
With Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese gone to the WNBA, there is no bigger name in college basketball than USC Trojans star JuJu Watkins. As a freshman at USC, Watkins broke numerous records and put up insane numbers. And ahead of her sophomore year, JuJu Watkins was in the lab working out with a former USC Trojans star DeMar DeRozan.
In a video posted on social media by DeMar DeRozan and later shared by BallIsLife, JuJu Watkins was seen getting pointers on shooting face-up jumpers in the midrange. Since DeRozan has been in the NBA, he’s developed into one of the best midrange shooters in the league.
Adding a consistent midrange and pull-up jumper will be lethal for Watkins to have in her offensive arsenal. She’s already near unstoppable on the court, this will make her even more unguardable.
And the Trojans’ roster is reloaded, adding several high profile transfers including potential 2025 No. 1 WNBA Draft pick Kiki Iriafen and Talia von Oelhoffen, as well as a talented group of seven freshmen.
