By: Joe Cardoso

If you are a true hoop head there is no way this year you haven’t heard the name JuJu Watkins. She is one of MANY super talented women who are ballin out of control and continuing the rapid rise of the women’s game. I don’t know about you, but I have lost track of how many great matchups we have had this year and most have lived up to the hype. I can’t say that about the men’s game, which is ok they will get their shine soon I am sure. But back to the 6’2 guard from Los Angeles who is on every award list known to man, and breaking records on what seems like a nightly basis.

What Makes Her Good?

Her size is something we haven’t seen a lot of in the women’s game. She can take you inside and hit the fade of the backboard, or simply pull up from mid-range or deep. We always talk about athletes putting in the work and with her as with any star you can see it quickly her footwork is excellent and she gets to her spots when and how she wants. One thing you hear a lot from people is that her game is older than her age, and that is a fact Watkins plays like a senior with her level-headed approach. Not one to force things but instead allows the game to come to her and once it does most times it’s a wrap for the other side. She is dynamic and explosive and plays at her speed not letting the defense rush her. Most freshmen take a few games if not a season to become use to the college game, but the great ones hit the ground running all while improving. Examples would be how after having a rough shooting game in a loss to Washington she came back with a VENGENCE. On the road, against an always tough Stanford team, she pours in 51 points and gets the dub. She was a joy to watch that game and did it in different ways. You can also look at her last game where Utah made life tough for her. But instead of folding up, she found a spot to help her team with tough defense and sharing the ball while having another 30-point game.

The People Love JuJu:

We are in the middle of a renaissance within the women’s game there has been no better time to get on the wave. Another one of the many reasons for this is the stars are humble people who recognize that the fans make the game even greater. JuJu has people lining up for hours to grab a seat and see the show and she takes time to throw the love right back. Most weeks we see a video of her signing autographs for kids or staying extra time to speak with the people. Without question, it is safe to call L.A. HER town. With the history of her family in the area it is a perfect match of school and athlete. Not too many people can say they honed their skills in a gym named after their grandfather. And in the Watts area, the name Ted Watkins Sr. holds serious weight for what he did for his community after the Watts Riots.

What’s Next?

With a boatload of awards coming her way the super freshman gets ready for the Pac-12 tournament. The loss to Utah stopped a 7-game win streak but in a tough conference, you can’t win them all. Sitting in 4th place with 2 games to go one of which is against Arizona who has a nice freshman guard themselves in Jada Williams. Mark the calendar for that one trust me! When you have folks like LeBron James, cheering you on things are going good for you. By staying home in L.A. JuJu is also trying to bring the USC women’s basketball program back to the national stage. A program with a rich history but lately has been an afterthought when we talk about the elites. March Madness is made for the stars and of course the upsets she is built for the stage and I can not wait to see what she does next. We are watching one of the BEST players in the country. Whoever your favorite player is they love her game and are watching. JuJu Watkins has a chance to possibly be one of the best players to ever step foot on a college basketball floor as the kids say now days that’s NO CAP.