Juju Watkins, born Judea Skies Watkins on July 15, 2005, is an American college basketball player for the USC Trojans in the Big Ten Conference.
She gained prominence as a top recruit while attending Windward School and Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles, where she was ranked as the number one player in her class by ESPN.
In her freshman season at USC, Watkins made an immediate impact, scoring 32 points in her debut against Ohio State and setting the USC record for points in a freshman debut.
She went on to average 27.1 points per game and set the NCAA Division I freshman scoring record with 920 points.
As she entered her sophomore season, Watkins was named Big Ten preseason player of the year and continued to excel on the court.
In addition to her collegiate success, she has represented the United States at various youth international levels, winning gold medals and earning MVP honors.
Parents
Juju is the youngest daughter of Sari and Robert Neal-Watkins.
Both of her parents are former college athletes; her mother, Sari, was a track and field star, while her father, Robert, played college football.
They initially envisioned a tennis career for Juju, inspired by her older sisters, but she ultimately pursued basketball instead.
Watkins has credited her parents with keeping her grounded throughout her rise in fame as a top basketball prospect.
They have been instrumental in her development as an athlete, with Robert coaching her in basketball from a young age.
The family has strong ties to their community, particularly through Juju’s grandfather, Theodore Watkins Sr., who founded the Watts Labor Community Action Committee to improve conditions in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Career
Watkins quickly established herself as a standout player.
In her freshman season (2023-24), Watkins set the NCAA Division I freshman scoring record, amassing 920 points, and became the leading scorer among freshmen in NCAA history.
She made an explosive debut by scoring 32 points in her first game against Ohio State, breaking the USC record for points in a freshman debut.
Throughout her freshman year, Watkins consistently delivered impressive performances, including a career-high 51 points against Stanford, which also set the USC single-game scoring record.
She averaged 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, ranking second among Division I players in scoring.
Her achievements earned her numerous accolades, including being named a unanimous first-team All-American and the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award winner as the nation’s top shooting guard.
In her sophomore season, Watkins was named Big Ten preseason player of the year and continued to excel on the court.
Her contributions helped lead the Trojans to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament, marking the school’s deepest run in 30 years.
Off the court, she signed one of the richest shoe endorsement deals in women’s basketball history.
Watkins has also represented the United States at the youth international level, winning gold medals at both the FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship and the Under-17 World Cup.
