LOS ANGELES — The celebrities had been out on the Galen Middle as USC hosted its undefeated crosstown rival UCLA in a top-10 showdown. Vanessa and Natalia Bryant had been in attendance, as had been Flea, Issa Rae, Kevin Hart, and Los Angeles Sparks Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby. To not point out actor Sanaa Lathan, who JuJu Watkins personally shouted out postgame for her iconic position as a Trojans basketball star in “Love and Basketball.”
Regardless of what number of icons dotted the sidelines, it was Watkins who was the star. The perfect and brightest in Los Angeles got here to see her placed on a present, and Watkins delivered.
“It’s actually a dream come true,” Watkins stated of enjoying on this stage. “And when you’ve got individuals like that present up, you may’t disappoint.”
The sophomore completed the evening with 38 factors, 11 rebounds, and eight blocks in USC’s 71-60 victory. It was her second-highest scoring complete of the season (behind her 40 factors towards California Baptist) and her career-best in blocks. Her earlier excessive was 5 rejections. She turned the primary Division I participant to publish 35 factors, 5 blocks and 5 assists in a recreation within the final 20 seasons.
Coming into Thursday’s matchup, Cori Shut stumped for her star Lauren Betts because the Huge Ten and nationwide Participant of the 12 months, saying, “I actually do imagine she’s been essentially the most persistently impactful participant on each side of the ball.” It was becoming that Watkins had her most interesting efficiency of the season exhibiting her versatility on each ends, punctuated by with the ability to assist shut down Betts.
Watkins impacts each side of the sport in each space of the court docket. Early on, she helped USC construct an early lead together with her jumper. Maybe as a result of Watkins had been taking pictures poorly from lengthy vary – she had made eight 3-pointers in her final six video games on 22.9 % taking pictures – the Bruins selected to go underneath on screens to protect towards her drives. Each time a defender gave her the additional area, Watkins launched, making 6 of seven 3s within the first half.
By the point she had made her fifth triple, she had 19 factors, outscoring UCLA on her personal to place USC up 14. After the Bruins clawed again and tied the sport with a minute left within the second quarter, she remoted on Londynn Jones and elevated for her sixth make to maintain the Trojans forward on the break.
“We’ll be speaking about this with our teaching employees years from now,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb stated after the sport, “JuJu’s simply heroic shot-making and energy and depth, particularly coming after the million questions she will get when it’s not excellent on the market.”
Because the tenor of the sport modified, Watkins developed in actual time. UCLA threw 4 completely different defenders at her in single protection within the first half, and he or she discovered her well past every of them. Gabriela Jaquez may very well be moved with a display screen, freshman Kendall Dudley bit on Watkins’ fakes, and Janiah Barker wasn’t disciplined sufficient to maintain observe of Watkins’ motion.
Watkins had some preliminary problem with Londynn Jones regardless of practically a foot benefit in peak, as Jones used her pace and quick palms to disrupt Watkins’ deal with. The USC sophomore needed to maintain the ball a bit of increased and get to her shot extra shortly. Within the fourth quarter, Watkins lastly discovered Jones’ reaching sample and baited her defender into fouling her on a rip-through; these free throws kickstarted a 9-0 run that determined the sport.
Watkins additionally discovered extra methods to affect the sport defensively. Early on, she was flying at Jones to shut out on the 3-point line, understanding that Jones is a greater shooter from outdoors the arc than in. Nevertheless, these aggressive closeouts gave Jones the time to step into pull-up jumpers with no contest. Watkins was extra measured within the second half, avoiding the urge to leap and get out of place in order that Jones couldn’t dribble previous her. With the jumper not obtainable to her, Jones tried to drive at Watkins, however Watkins was simply in a position to include these forays to the rim.
Gottlieb additionally known as on Watkins to be extra energetic in assist protection within the second half, as Betts was getting too comfy in isolation. She instructed Watkins she wanted to be good about when to deliver the double, however Watkins had already picked up on Betts’ tendencies.
“Betts is simply an anomaly, so it was simply essential that (the bigs) knew the guards had their again as properly, and we’re all linked collectively,” Watkins stated. “I used to be in a position to get my palms on quite a lot of Betts’ photographs when it got here right down to the stretch of it. Simply any manner I may also help out defensively, I’m right down to do it.”
Along with Betts, Watkins rotated over a number of occasions to get rejections on Kiki Rice, backing up Kennedy Smith, who was making use of aggressive ball stress on Rice on the level of assault. All of these blocks created transition alternatives the opposite manner, and Watkins was inconceivable to cease with a head of steam. Along with her seven free throw makes an attempt within the second half, Watkins additionally had three assists in transition, all leading to layups.
The Bruins got here into the sport with a plan to make Watkins beat them from distance. When she proved able to doing that, they tried to disclaim her the ball altogether. That pressured Watkins to create possessions together with her protection, forcing turnovers and getting out in transition. No matter transfer the Bruins made, Watkins had a counter. She delivered the final blow, spearheading a 24-8 fourth quarter together with her playmaking on each ends of the ground.
this sequence >>> pic.twitter.com/PH3KyIG7Xo
— USC Girls’s Basketball (@USCWBB) February 14, 2025
“It has been a troublesome couple weeks for me, however I’m simply staying true to the method,” Watkins stated. “There’s a lesson in all the things and I feel that’s to all the time keep joyful within the course.”
In her second season, Watkins hasn’t had the exclamation factors that outlined her first, be it the debut recreation towards Ohio State or dropping 51 in Maples Pavilion towards Stanford. However she has nonetheless produced on the highest of ranges and affected profitable in a manner that few else can, constructing on her first-team All-America marketing campaign from a yr in the past.
Thursday was her headliner, a marquee efficiency to spotlight her case for the nationwide Participant of the 12 months. No higher time or place to showcase her abilities than in a rivalry recreation towards the No. 1 workforce within the nation.
(Picture of JuJu Watkins: Ronald Martinez / Getty Photos)