JuJu Watkins Draws Attention With Big Announcement Outside USC

JuJu Watkins’ on-court career at USC may be on pause, but she’s making news again with a major off-court development. This week, she’s returning to the high school where her legend began, and the reason for the visit is a powerful testament to the legacy she’s already built. Even when she’s not on the court, JuJu Watkins is still receiving major honors. This week, the spotlight shifts from her USC heroics back to Sierra Canyon, where her high school is preparing to give her a permanent tribute that few athletes ever receive.

Eric Sondheimer, a well-known sports reporter, says, “JuJu Watkins returns to Sierra Canyon on Friday.” The visit is a big deal for the All-American guard because Sierra Canyon High School will retire her jersey during halftime of the boys’ basketball game against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. Watkins will receive a framed jersey at the ceremony to honor the lasting impact she had on the program, where she first became known as a basketball prodigy.

This honor is important because it shows how far Watkins has come, from being a high school star to a college basketball superstar. Her first season at USC was life-changing: she scored 32 points in her first game and helped the Trojans beat seventh-ranked Ohio State. Watkins averaged 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game during her freshman year. Her second season made her the best player in the country, and she won the Naismith College Player of the Year, AP Player of the Year, and John R. Wooden Award, among many other awards.

Alicia Komaki, the coach of the Sierra Canyon girls’ basketball team, talked about how Watkins changed things at the high school level: “She raised our standards, which was hard to do because we had won four state championships. She was an incredibly talented player.” Komaki’s statement makes it clear that Watkins didn’t just add to an already successful program; she raised the bar for what the school expected of itself, which is a rare achievement for a school with a championship pedigree.

Watkins hurt her ACL in her junior year, but her legacy lives on. Going back to Sierra Canyon reminds everyone of where her journey began.

Jazzy Davidson steps up as USC pushes forward without JuJu Watkins

For a moment, it felt like USC’s season might pause without JuJu Watkins on the floor. Instead, the Trojans hit the gas.

Playing shorthanded, USC pulled off one of its biggest wins of the year, knocking off No. 10 NC State 69–68 in Charlotte in a game that came down to the final possession. The win immediately changed the narrative, sending the Trojans rocketing up the AP Top 25 from No. 18 to No. 8 and putting them right back in the national conversation.

Freshman Jazzy Davidson was at the center of it all. In a pressure-packed moment, she scored the game-winning layup and finished with 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and five blocks. For a first-year player, it was the kind of performance that makes fans sit up and take notice. Davidson didn’t just fill the stat sheet but she looked comfortable owning the moment.

That truly counts for a USC team built around Watkins. Davidson’s breakout showed the Trojans aren’t dependent on just one player to win big games. When Watkins returns, USC won’t be starting from scratch.

The ranking jump marks USC’s first trip back into the top 10 since last season, when the Trojans entered the NCAA Tournament at No. 4 before falling to eventual national champion UConn in the Elite Eight. Now, they sit second in the Big Ten, behind only No. 3 UCLA and ahead of familiar conference heavyweights like Maryland, Michigan, Iowa, Michigan State, and Washington.

Without JuJu Watkins, USC didn’t fold. It displayed depth, confidence, and belief while reminding everyone that the Trojans are still very much a team to look out for.

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