It’s not easy to stand out from the rest of the pack in today’s women’s college basketball scene. There are so many stellar talents that there shouldn’t be any clear-cut favorites.
That’s why what JuJu Watkins accomplished was so historically remarkable. The USC star sophomore dropped 30 points, five dimes, two steals, and three blocks to beat UCLA, earning Player of the Year honors from The Athletic.
She averaged a whopping 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game to lead her team to a 27-2 record and a Big Ten title. However, as talented as she is, her coach believes her mentality is what makes her stand out.
JuJu Watkins’ competitiveness is even bigger than her talent, says coach
“I think what JuJu brings to the table is just a fierce competitiveness, a focus on winning and not on noise, and an ability to look inward and galvanize a group to do the same,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb told The Athletic. “The focus on winning and that sort of magnetic competitiveness is probably not seen or not talked about enough with her.”
Of course, one cannot overlook her impressive scoring prowess and god-given traits with the basketball, so Coach Gottlieb also wanted to shower her with praise for that:
“Her talent jumps off the screen for people who are watching on TV — the explosiveness, the body control, the complete game,” Gottlieb added. “To me, what makes her next level is her impact on winning and her ability to rise to any moment that presents itself, no matter how big.”
It will be some time before we see Watkins take her talents to the pros, and a lot can change. For now, however, it seems like we’re witnessing a generational talent.