University Southern California Trojans
USC’s JuJu Watkins Earns Invitation to USA Basketball Women’s U19 National Team Trials
May 08, 2023 | Women's Basketball
The incoming star is one of 24 players set to compete for a spot on a 12-player roster for the FIBA U19 World Cup.
USC women's basketball's incoming freshman talent, JuJu Watkins, has been selected to participate in USA Basketball's U19 National Team Trials, the organization announced today (May 8). Watkins is one of 24 players in the mix to make Team USA's U19 roster for the upcoming FIBA U19 Women's World Cup, to be held July 15-23 in Madrid.
Watkins will head to Colorado Springs to participate in the trials beginning on May 12. Watkins brings in prior experience in the USA Basketball program, having won gold for the USA at the 2022 FIBA U17 Women's World Cup as well as gold at the 2021 FIBA U16 America Championship.
Recently named the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Watkins is finishing up a storied high school career at Sierra Canyon High School. In earning the 2023 Gatorade award, Watkins became just the second Trojan to win the award, following in the footsteps of 1990 honoree Lisa Leslie — another Los Angeles native. Watkins has been named the Gatorade California Player of the Year the past two years.
A 6-2 guard, Watkins also won the 2023 Jersey Mike's Naismith High School Trophy this year alongside USC men's basketball signee Isaiah Collier, marking the first time in history that the Naismith's top high school basketball awards have both gone to athletes signed on to attend to the same university. Lisa Leslie also was the last USC female to win that award. Also this year, Watkins was named the MaxPreps Player of the Year for the second straight year and was selected Co-MVP at the McDonald's All-American Game. The WBCA also named her High School Player of the Year and to the Coaches' All-America Team.
In her senior season at Sierra Canyon High, the McDonald's All-American helped lead the Trailblazers to a 31-1 record and the CIF-Southern Section Open Division title while averaging 27.5 points, 13.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.7 blocks per game.
Watkins is one of two incoming true freshmen signed on to join the Women of Troy for the coming 2023-24 season, heading to USC alongside Seattle product Malia Samuels.
Watkins will head to Colorado Springs to participate in the trials beginning on May 12. Watkins brings in prior experience in the USA Basketball program, having won gold for the USA at the 2022 FIBA U17 Women's World Cup as well as gold at the 2021 FIBA U16 America Championship.
Recently named the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Watkins is finishing up a storied high school career at Sierra Canyon High School. In earning the 2023 Gatorade award, Watkins became just the second Trojan to win the award, following in the footsteps of 1990 honoree Lisa Leslie — another Los Angeles native. Watkins has been named the Gatorade California Player of the Year the past two years.
A 6-2 guard, Watkins also won the 2023 Jersey Mike's Naismith High School Trophy this year alongside USC men's basketball signee Isaiah Collier, marking the first time in history that the Naismith's top high school basketball awards have both gone to athletes signed on to attend to the same university. Lisa Leslie also was the last USC female to win that award. Also this year, Watkins was named the MaxPreps Player of the Year for the second straight year and was selected Co-MVP at the McDonald's All-American Game. The WBCA also named her High School Player of the Year and to the Coaches' All-America Team.
In her senior season at Sierra Canyon High, the McDonald's All-American helped lead the Trailblazers to a 31-1 record and the CIF-Southern Section Open Division title while averaging 27.5 points, 13.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.7 blocks per game.
Watkins is one of two incoming true freshmen signed on to join the Women of Troy for the coming 2023-24 season, heading to USC alongside Seattle product Malia Samuels.
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