LOS ANGELES, Dec 9: JuJu Watkins and Isaiah Collier made history before stepping onto the Galen Center court for their first basketball games with Southern California.
Last November’s announcements by Watkins and Collier that they’d be attending USC marked the first time the top consensus men’s and women’s high school recruits decided to attend the same school in the same season.
“I think it’s a credit to both programs. They’ve been elevated over the last few years to be able to attract high-level recruits, including JuJu and Isaiah. And I think both are special talents,” men’s coach Andy Enfield said.
Watkins announced her commitment on Nov. 15, 2022, and Collier made his intentions known one day later. They got a chance to meet each other at the McDonald’s All-American Game in March. While Watkins is a Los Angeles native and elected to stay home, Collier is from Atlanta and selected the Trojans over ACC and SEC programs.
“We’ve been considered a football school for so long. I think the program has set a foundation that we’re working towards by getting the basketball program here what it used to be for women,” Watkins said. “We both have great programs and are honestly the place to be. I’m just glad to be a part of it.”
So far, both have been living up to the hype.
Watkins is averaging 27.3 points, second in the nation only to Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, with five 30-point games in her first seven contests with the No. 6 Trojans. She’s also the first USC player since Cheryl Miller to have three straight 30-point outings.
Collier’s 17.3 points per game is third nationally among freshmen. His 138 points through USC’s first eight games is the most by a Trojans freshman since O.J. Mayo had 168 in 2007-08. (AP)
