The Athletic has unanimously named USC star JuJu Watkins the National Player of the Year, and the Trojans head coach Lindsay Gottlieb couldn’t be any prouder for her sophomore guard.
Gottlieb took to social media to show her pride for her standout player, whom she called “above all else, a winner.” In her instagram story, the Trojans coach shared a post from the USC women’s basketball’s official Instagram, announcing Watkins’ recent milestone.
“Well deserved. JuJu Watkins has been named the unanimous National Player of the Year by the Athletic!” the caption of the original post read.
JuJu Watkins thrives in her sophomore season at USC
JuJu Watkins is coming off a successful freshman campaign at USC. Not only was she named the USBWA and the Athletic’s National Freshman of the Year, she was also a unanimous first-team All-American. She also set the NCAA Division I freshman scoring record and received the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year award.
The expectations are higher for Watkins in her sophomore year, and she seems to be thriving, still. She has started in every game for the Trojans, averaging 34.6 minutes per game, tallying 24.4 points and 6.7 rebounds. Those stats dipped compared to her rookie season (27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds), but her current scoring average still ranks second in the NCAA.
The USC guard has also improved in assists this season, from last year’s 3.3 to 3.6. She has also improved shooting percentages from both the field and beyond the three-point mark while taking a dip from the free throw line. From last season’s 40.1/31.9/85.2 shooting splits, she currently has 42.9/33.9/82.6 this season.
Last Sunday, Watkins finished with 30 points in 38 minutes of play in USC’s 80-67 win over UCLA. From ranking second in the AP Top 25, the Bruins fell to the fourth spot following the loss. In their prior matchup on Feb. 13, Watkins recorded a double-double of 38 points and 11 rebounds in the Trojans’ 71-60 win over the Bruins.
Watkins has recorded 25-plus points in three of the last five games she played. Her Trojans squad won the Big Ten regular season title and is expected to be a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Given her accomplishments this season thus far, The Athletic unanimously picked Watkins as the National Player of the Year.
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Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
