The University tag is probably the most impactful springboard that enables rookies to take a deep dive into pro ball. And for all our sports celebs who were once freshers too, it’s not as useless as we deem it to be. Don’t believe us? Just ask the five-star guard JuJu Watkins, who is making the perfect use of her college alumni network to gain all the tips she can, before the season finally takes off. And if your senior is a 6x NBA All-Star like DeMar DeRozan- you are all set for the unfolding of power-packed action!
United by the USC spirit, DeMar DeRozan dropped in at the practice arena to share some of his pro tips with the hoops sensation. A grateful and much-elated JuJu Watkins couldn’t contain her excitement and took to her Instagram handle to post a story where DeMar could clearly be seen flaunting his skill and the next moment, the ball goes clean through the hoop.
The 3 words she used as the caption on her Instagram stories sum up her experience perfectly, “Was dropping gems!!!” along with ‘a face with peeking eye’ emoticon. DeMar DeRozan did a live demonstration of breaching the hypothetical defensive wall and it was something that JuJu Watkins will surely benefit from. She was truly living her fangirl moment!
The ex-Trojan, with his astuteness to judge potential and promise, knew that Watkins was going to make it to the bigger courts long before she put on a University of Southern California jersey for the first time.
Hailing from the Lakers’ home of Los Angeles, JuJu Watkins had landed on DeMar DeRozan’s radar as a prospective high school talent pool early on in her career. He knew she would create the next big hype wave and, like always, the young gun’s action on the hardwood proved him right! She committed herself to DeRozan’s Alma Mater USC as the No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class.
DeMar DeRozan – With a keen eye for young sensations who have the promise to deliver!
The Trojan launched 32 points in her debut and then tied Lisa Leslie’s record for most 30-point games (3) scored by a freshman within the first two weeks of the season itself! The USC alumna couldn’t have been more proud! Conferring upon her the much-deserved praise, DeMar DeRozan said, “I’ve known her for a while so I’m not surprised at all. Not at all.
It’s amazing to see what she represents, what she comes from, to be able to stay home and bring (USC) women’s basketball back to the high level that it’s at. It’s amazing to see what she’s doing with that, what the whole program is doing. I’m not surprised but I’m definitely happy.”
Watkins, with her strictly packed training schedule, doesn’t sit on her heap of praises for long, even if they are showered by the best of the best. At the end of the regular season, she went on to become the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and All-Pac-12, while adding the All-Defensive Team honors to her name. Watkins became a leading sensation in giving the USC a Pac-12 Tournament title win over the then #2 Stanford.
With a freshman record standing at 920 points, Watkins broke the NCAA Division I, shattering the previous mark of 898 set by Tina Hutchinson four decades ago. She also won the attention of the 2x WNBA MVP champion A’ja Wilson who wrote on X after USC’s win over Stanford, “Watching Ju grow over these next years is about to be so exciting! Love this for her!”
With a deep-rooted love for USC, playing in the jersey got DeMar DeRozan into the NBA spotlight, the 6’6” swingman continues to root for JuJu Watkins and take to the court action to sharpen her mettle.
Coming off a season average of 24 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists, topped with his opposing playoff defenses’ ability, DeMar DeRozan has a pretty great chance of turning into a true A-tier star. It’s a matter of wait and watch as to what the upcoming season holds for the two USC sensations, Watkins and DeMar but one thing can be vouched for – USC just can’t stop marveling at the Trojan wonders it has gifted to the sport!
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