Rising Star: Freshman JuJu Watkins Stuns with 51-Point Performance

Written by

Sara Jane Gamelli

JuJu Watkins delivered a report breaking historic efficiency

USC Trojans Freshman sensation JuJu Watkins is a strolling bucket, and nobody was stopping her Friday evening.

At Maples Pavilion, the rookie exploded for 51 factors and led USC to simply their second highway win on the season. Delivering a historic efficiency, the guard grabbed 11 boards, and completed with a double-double. No. 12 grew to become the primary participant to ever rating 51 factors in a sport for the Trojans. Cherie Nelson beforehand held the report for probably the most factors in a sport with 50 in 1989.

Over the weekend, No. 15 USC Trojans (15-4) took down No. 4 Stanford in a classic Pac-12 showdown. 19-3 on the season, and 8-2 within the convention, Stanford retains the slight lead over Colorado. With the victory, USC ranks sixth within the convention, behind Utah.

A 2-1 report in opposition to the Cardinal since early 2023, the Trojans recorded their first win in opposition to Stanford on the highway because the 2000-2001 season.

With reference to her historic efficiency, Watkins would not fairly put herself in the identical class as USC legends Lisa Leslie and Cheryl Miller simply but. Even after this jaw dropping efficiency, she’s centered on getting again within the gymnasium for his or her subsequent matchup in opposition to California. That is mamba mentality proper there.

JUJU WATKINS 🔥
Broke the USC report for factors in a sport as a freshman!

51 Factors
14/26 Taking pictures
6/11 Threes
17/19 Free Throws
11 Rebounds
4 Steals

In an upset win over No.4 Stanford pic.twitter.com/c9PtftXwQV

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 3, 2024

“Its loopy, ” Watkins stated after breaking the Trojans single sport scoring report. “I do not actually give it some thought an excessive amount of. I’ve an extended technique to go until I’ll take into account myself in that class with Cheryl [Miller], Lisa [Leslie] and the greats. I am simply honored, blessed to be on this surroundings, house and time in Ladies’s Basketball. I am simply soaking all of it in–I’ll take all of it in after which again to the gymnasium.” (USC Athletics).

She’s been killing it in her rookie season

Now simply making headlines, the rookie has been breaking data all season lengthy. Simply 18 years outdated, the freshman has seven video games with 30+ factors. That is probably the most since Nelson, who completed with eight in the course of the 1988-1989 season.

Recording her fourth double-double of the season, Watkins is the primary D1 NCAA freshman to attain 50 factors in a single sport since Elena Delle Donne in 2010 (54).

Whereas there’s loads of NCAA expertise, Watkins is totally different. Main USC in a brand new period of basketball, she continues to construct on her Los Angeles legacy. From the way in which she conducts herself in interviews, to her soar shot release–the future is vibrant for Watkins.

Coming off a heartbreaking 62-59 loss against Washington, Watkins arguably had considered one of her worst taking pictures performances of the season. She completed with 19 factors, on 8-27 (29.6 %) subject objective taking pictures, and 2-7 (28.6 %) from deep. To have the ability to overcome that and adapt on this approach speaks volumes.

“Her demeanor from the second that sport ended in opposition to Washington till now could be what units her aside to me greater than these numbers,” stated Trojans head coach Lindsay Gottlieb within the USC Athletics publish sport presser. “All week I stated, this child is totally different, she’s particular the way in which she takes teaching, the way in which she’s a teammate, the way in which she holds herself accountable.” (USC Athletics).

Buckets on buckets on buckets.

All 51 factors from JuJu’s historic evening ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/4WXvUNtPhm

— USC Ladies’s Basketball (@USCWBB) February 3, 2024

Watkins single handily defeated the 4th greatest crew within the nation, and a high 5 ranked program. 51 factors is spectacular in opposition to any crew, however in opposition to Tara VanDerveer and the Stanford Cardinal? You are speaking about making headlines in opposition to the winningest coach in NCAA basketball historical past and one of the vital pristine packages in NCAA historical past. That is particular, and the basketball world is witnessing the evolution of the subsequent generational expertise.