USC freshman women's basketball superstar JuJu Watkins seems to be setting a record every game.
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The most recent of them came during 10th-ranked USC's 81-64 win over Arizona on Monday night. Watkins — whose 27.7 points per game is second to only Iowa's Caitlin Clark in NCAA women's basketball — finished the game with 32 points and seven rebounds.
Not only was this Watkins' ninth 30-point game this season — which is the most among all freshmen in Division 1 basketball (men's and women's) — but the scoring outburst also broke the USC school record for most 30-point games in a season, which was set by Cherie Nelson in 1988-89.
Watkins put on this record-setting performance in front of Cheryl Miller — a two-time NCAA national champion with USC, three-time Naismith Player of the Year winner, and basketball Hall of Famer — who sat with actor Will Ferrell to watch Watkins' show on Monday night.
Will Ferrell & Cheryl Miller.
Legendary Trojans in the house tonight! pic.twitter.com/0e9kKDtuWw
— USC Women's Basketball (@USCWBB) February 13, 2024
After breaking one USC legend's scoring record while another USC legend was watching in person, Watkins was asked about being compared to her school's all-time greats during a post-win interview.
"I don't really think about that type of stuff," Watkins responded. "I think that I just try to keep a positive mentality, always trying to get better and be humble. I think that will take me far."
Although Watkins isn't thinking about these comparisons, the rest of us are.
Yet, no matter how many individual records that Watkins will produce during her USC tenure, the only way that she'll cement herself as one of the school's legends is if she can bring the school postseason success.
The current USC women's basketball Mt. Rushmore would arguably consist of these four players: Miller, Nelson, Lisa Leslie and Cynthia Cooper.
Both Miller and Cooper were an integral part of USC's two national championships, in 1983 and 1984. While Nelson wasn't part of any national championship teams, she led USC to a conference championship and a Final Four appearance. Leslie also won a conference championship and carried her 1994 team to an Elite Eight appearance.
Only time will tell how far Watkins can take her USC team both this year and in the future. But we'd be shocked if the Women of Troy don't make waves in March.
