USC’s freshman phenom came into Thursday’s game at Arizona averaging 28.2 points, 7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 34 minutes a game this season. She has shot 41.6 percent from the field, 34.8 percent from behind the arc and 86.1 percent from the free throw line.
Watkins is the No.2 scorer in the nation behind Iowa’s senior guard Caitlin Clark, who is averaging 32.1 points per game.
She has been named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week 13 times and named the Pac-12 Player of the Week three times this season. She set the conference record with her ninth Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honor. She also set the conference record for winning both awards simultaneously with her second player of the week honor.
Other nominees include Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, Texas’s Madison Booker, Iowa State’s Addy Brown, and LSU’s Mikaylah Williams.
Watkins — at least when measured by her own lofty standards — has struggled in her last two games. Expect a big performance from her on Saturday as USC faces Arizona State in the final game of the Pac-12 women’s basketball regular season.
JuJu Watkins just getting anything and everything she wants against Colorado. Matchup against a smaller defender, gets into post, quick one-dribble stepback for a jumper. She has 19 on 6-of-12, USC up 29-23 on Colorado pic.twitter.com/CrDq67V33i
— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) February 24, 2024
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