USC Trojans Star JuJu Watkins Wins Best Breakthrough Athlete At ESPYS

USC Trojans basketball fans had the pleasure of witnessing a special season from star freshman guard JuJu Watkins in 2023-24. She led the Pac-12 with 27.1 PPG, which ranked second-best in the entire NCAA, only behind Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark.

But this shouldn’t have come as a major surprise, considering she was a five-star recruit and the No. 1-ranked player in the 2023 class. After considering offers from other prestigious women’s college basketball programs like South Carolina and Stanford, Watkins wisely committed to USC, and she put forth an incredible season.

• JuJu Watkins stats (USC): 27.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.3 APG

Amazingly, despite being named a first-team All-American and the WBCA Freshman of the Year, Watkins had to return for her sophomore season at USC since women’s college basketball doesn’t have a one-and-done rule. But before she returns to master her craft, she’ll have to add another major award to her trophy showcase.

JuJu Watkins rewarded for special season at 2024 ESPY Awards

On Thursday night, it was announced that Watkins won ‘ Best Breakthrough Athlete ‘ at the 2024 ESPY Awards.

Watkins, a Los Angeles, California native, is just 18 years old, but it’s clear she’s a special talent. It’s only a matter of time before we see her thriving in the WNBA too, and someday, possibly even participating in the Olympics with the Team USA basketball squad.

Yet, for now, she joins a long list of accomplished competitors to earn an award at the ESPYS. Some previous winners of Best Breakthrough Athlete include:

• Angel Reese – 2023
• Eileen Gu – 2022
• LaMelo Ball – 2021
• Saquon Barkley – 2019
• Donovan Mitchell – 2018
• Dak Prescott – 2017
• Jake Arrieta – 2016
• Mo’ne Davis – 2015
• Richard Sherman – 2014
• Colin Kaepernick – 2013

Other previous winners had bigger LA ties, such as Blake Griffin (2011), Hideo Nomo (1996), Mike Piazza (1994), and Gary Sheffield (1993). Can Watkins follow in the footsteps of her fellow stars? Time will tell, but it appears she’s on the right track.

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