PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Proficient freshman JuJu Watkins sobbed following USC’s Elite Eight loss to UConn, however her tears weren’t a lot in regards to the finish of the NCAA Match run for the Trojans.
Watkins was unhappy it was the final recreation along with her teammates till subsequent season.
“I’ve the most effective teammates on this planet,” she mentioned, her voice trailing off as she wept.
An AP first-team All-American as a freshman, Watkins averaged 27 factors this season, second solely to Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, who set the sport’s all-time Division I scoring report this season.
Watkins confirmed this she might be the inheritor obvious to Clark as soon as the Iowa sensation departs to the WNBA after this season.
Within the last recreation of her freshman season, an 80-73 loss to the Huskies, Watkins completed with 29 factors. Through the recreation, she set the one season freshman scoring report, which was 898 factors set in 1983 by Tina Hutchinson at San Diego State.
Watkin’s last tally this season was 920.
“The report is nice. Simply the moments that I’ve received to spend with this group have meant the whole lot to me,” she mentioned. “I’m simply excited for subsequent yr.”
Watkins made a splash in her faculty debut with 32 factors in an 83-74 victory over Ohio State. She scored a season-high 51 factors in a 67-58 win over Stanford on Feb. 2.
Within the Candy 16, she took management within the last moments, driving the size of the ground for a go-ahead three-point play with 3:13 left and the Trojans went on to beat Baylor 74-70. Watkins completed with 30 factors and pushed USC into its first Elite Eight look in 30 years.
USC senior McKenzie Forbes marveled at her younger teammate.
“It’s actually uncommon that you simply get a celebrity that may are available. She’s selfless. She’s mature. She’s a winner. She solely cares about successful. She’s (expletive) 18 years outdated. Sorry. Excuse my language,” Forbes mentioned. “Critically, I might need to be her teammate day-after-day of the week. I actually imply that. I feel this program couldn’t be in higher arms than along with her.”
The Elite Eight was so far as the Trojans might get within the match, stopped by a decided UConn group and star Paige Bueckers. The Huskies made it powerful on Watkins by double-teaming her successfully.
“For her to have the yr she had as a freshman, fearless, assured, top-of-the-line gamers within the nation, she’s received rather a lot to construct on,” Bueckers mentioned. “I do know getting right here, feeling this loss, we’ve been part of it, it’s very motivating. It allows you to construct expertise on the best way to be higher, the best way to study from it.”
Watkins, a hometown child who went to Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles, was one in all a number of excessive profile freshmen this season, together with Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo and Texas’ Madison Booker.
With Hollywood as a backdrop, Watkins captured the Los Angeles highlight. She’s even featured in a tv industrial with Joel Embiid for AT&T that showcases her distinctive bun coiffure — one in all a number of endorsement offers she’s landed.
However it’s the sport that motivates her.
“I feel simply arising quick, that provides numerous gas to the fireplace for the following couple years,” she mentioned. “I’m simply excited to return house and get within the gymnasium now. I’m actually centered on studying from this season as a complete, issues I can enhance on.”
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AP March Insanity bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket/ and protection: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness