USC Women's Basketball: JuJu Watkins Reflects On First 30-Point Game (Of Many)

Alex Kirschenbaum | Apr 13, 2024

Apr 1, 2024; Portland, OR, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) puts up a shot against the UConn Huskies in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament. / Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

All-American USC Trojans freshman superstar shooting guard JuJu Watkins, an LA native, enjoyed an impressive NCAA debut season, guiding her team to a sparkling 29-6 overall record, a Pac-12 championship, and an Elite Eight NCAA Tournament appearance. Through 34 available games, the 6'2" shooting guard out of Sierra Canyon School averaged 27.1 points (the second-most in the nation behind just Caitlin Clark) on .401/.319/.852 shooting splits, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.6 blocks a night.

During a new conversation with LA Clippers All-Star forward Paul George for his show "Podcast P With Paul George," Watkins, still just 18 now, explained when she first got committed to the game.

"I would say when I was like 11, I really had to talk with my parents [and tell them], 'This is something that I really want to do,'" Watkins said. "'Cause other than it was just playing outside with my brothers or going to the park, but I really wanted to be serious about it so I worked in the offseason with my dad [Robert Neal-Watkins], he trained me on fundamentals and stuff. I guess it just started from there."

At age six, Watkins apparently submitted her first 30+ point outing, playing against a group of boys in a park.

"It was at that Westchester Park, it was like a co-ed park league," Watkins explained, though she disputed the final scoring tally.

Her mom, speaking off-camera, confirmed that Watkins did indeed score north of 30 points in the contest.

"I thought it was 35 [points[," Sari Watkins said. "I remember him being so mad he tried to pick her up and walk her out [of] the gym."