USC Makes JuJu Watkins Announcement on Thursday

Across 33 games in her sophomore season, JuJu Watkins averaged an impressive 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game. She shot 42.6% from the field, 32.5% from three-point range, and 82.0% from the free-throw line.

Remarkably, Watkins was just as dominant — if not more so — in her freshman year, when she posted averages of 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game.

After her injury in March, USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb released a powerful statement, praising Watkins not only for her elite talent but also for her leadership and the strength of her character.

"JuJu is a special player — unquestionably tough physically and mentally — and she is deeply loved by her team and her Trojan Family,” Gottlieb said. "One thing I know about JuJu is that she is resilient. We are in full support of her and believe that this injury will not shake her drive and dedication to be the best player and person she can be, and to help her teammates shine. JuJu’s toughness, her talent and her competitive spirit have impacted our program in more ways than people realize and will continue to inspire us in our pursuit of a national championship.”