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Juju Watkins, a sensational sophomore who led Southern California to her best season in nearly 40 years, was recognized as Associated Press Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year on Thursday.
Watkins, who won the Trojans’ first conference crown in 31 years, won the Big 10 regular season title, earned 29 votes from a 31-member national media panel that votes for the AP Top 25 weekly. Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame has got two other ones. Both were the first team’s AP All-American.
“I think the very important thing about this award is that this wasn’t a year without talent and stars. Juju found a way to boost herself and her team,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said.
Watkins became the fourth player to win the award in his sophomore year, joining Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris (2007) and Turquoise Stars Maya Moore (2009) and Brena Stewart (2014). The AP first began to award the award in 1995, and Watkins was the first Trojan player to win it.
“There are many things she looks easy,” Gottlieb said. “It’s one thing to say she’s a generational talent, but another thing to do that and put herself in names like Stewie, Maya, Courtney Paris.”
Watkins is already in the top 10 on USC’s all-time high-scoring list, ranking sixth in just two years. She averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists before the season was shortened in the NCAA tournament after an ACL injury occurred in the second round against Mississippi State.
Watkins raised the game against his best opponent. In six games against the AP Top 10 team, she averaged 26.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks, shooting 35.4% from behind the 3-point line.
“She performed at her best in her biggest moments,” Gottlieb said. “I thought she really learned how to control and empower others throughout the year.”
Watkins is already one of the top sports.
The average attendance for the Trojans has increased from 4,421 last year to 5,932 this season. Celebrities such as Snoop Dogg, Kevin Hart, Jason Sudeikis, Michael B. Jordan, and Sanaa Lathan appeared in one of Watkins’ favorite movies, Love & Basketball. The year before she arrived averaged 1,037.
“It’s hard to miss Snoop Dogg on his custom juju jacket,” Gottlieb said. “This happened organically and authentically. She decides to stay home, cares about the city and has the magnetism to attract people. It’s the way she carries herself. She’s confident, but she’s very humble and true to her community. It’s amazing to see her impact.”
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