The bun, the smile, and that absolutely silky jump shot? They are officially back. JuJu Watkins is returning to college basketball after missing last season rehabbing an ACL tear, and the star guard is already making waves for a Southern California squad eyeing their first national championship since way back in 1984.
The Return of a Game Changer
Watkins, who dropped a ridiculous 25.6 points per game in her first two seasons, has been laser-focused on this comeback. “It’s on my mind every day,” she said about the title hunt. “So much anticipation has gone into this year. I want it really badly, but also in a healthy way. I just want to have fun and really enjoy this year.” Imagine that first bucket going in, a moment Watkins has been dreaming about nightly. “I’ve had dreams about that every night. I might shed a tear, honestly, I can’t lie,” she admitted, ready for what will be “a really amazing feeling.” She gave a tantalizing preview too, scoring 18 points in just 22 minutes during USC’s recent exhibition win over California.
A Stacked Roster Ready to Run
Watkins isn’t coming back to a barren cupboard, either. She’s teaming up in the backcourt for the first time with Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jazzy Davidson, who averaged 17.9 points last season. Their chemistry started brewing while Watkins was sidelined from the injury she picked up in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Watkins was often spotted on the sideline, hyping Davidson up, even encouraging her when Davidson was being hard on herself. “She saw me being hard on myself and I think she saw a little bit of her in me,” Davidson shared, noting how Watkins “kind of knew what it was like going through that. Being able to build the friendship that we were able to build, it’s a huge blessing.” Last season, Davidson wasn’t just scoring, she led the Trojans in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks per game. USC finished 18-14 overall, 9-9 in the Big Ten, and lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The talent doesn’t stop there. Guard Saniyah Hall put up 23 points, six rebounds, and five steals in that same exhibition game. And watch out for forward Sara Okeke, one of three five-star recruits joining the roster this year. Coach Lindsay Gottlieb is clearly impressed, saying, “They have proven that they’re going to be really impactful players at a high level.”
Leadership Forged in Adversity
The expectations on Watkins are through the roof, as they always are. She was named the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year. But she’s not just back to score; she’s back smarter. “I’m definitely a smarter player coming back. I know more about the different reads and was able to study a lot and assert myself in different situations when I wasn’t playing,” Watkins revealed. She even found ways to contribute while off the court last season, setting up chairs for team talks on the road. It was a subtle, but powerful, way to lead. “I was able to take on a leadership role for sure and I can’t say I really owned that role prior to that,” she explained. “Being able to do that and also see the game from a different perspective and seeing how can I help my team really helped grow my IQ and leadership skills.”
This USC squad is kicking off their season Monday in Las Vegas against UNLV in the Hall of Fame Series. Get ready for some serious action, because their early schedule also includes a road trip to top-ranked South Carolina on November 15, plus a showdown with No. 13 Notre Dame. With JuJu Watkins back and a stacked roster, these Trojans are ready to show the world what they’re truly capable of.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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