JuJu Watkins was the star of the show on Feb. 12, as she put up 38 points, 11 rebounds, and eight blocks to help the USC Trojans claim a tough 71-60 victory against the UCLA Bruins at Galen Center. That show ensured that Watkins reached 1,500 points in her college career.
JuJu Watkins’ Road to 1,500 Points
Sophomore guard Watkins has been attracting attention with her impressive performances for the Trojans. In the game against UCLA, she made yet another big statement with her performance. Watkins became the first Division I player in the last 20 seasons to record at least 35 points, five assists, and five blocks in a single game.
In her first year with the Trojans, Watkins averaged 27.1 points per game, which is no mean feat. And even though that number has dropped to 24.5 points, it is still nothing short of what a generational talent would produce.
Following her impressive performances, NBA analyst Jason Whitlock compared Watkins to a light-skinned Kobe Bryant.
“I’m not exaggerating, this looks like light-skinned Kobe Bryant, light-skinned Michael Jordan in female form. My No. 1 conclusion from watching all of this: the NBA is done. The clock is ticking, as I’ve been saying for the past year, with the women’s game is going to surpass the men’s game,” Whitlock said.
With her impressive performances, Watkins has been tipped to outdo Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark.
Can Watkins Surpass Caitlin Clark’s Record?
As aforementioned, Watkins has gone past the 1,500-point mark. However, she still has a long way to go before she surpasses Clark.
The Indiana Fever star is the NCAA Division I all-time highest scorer with 3,951 points. To exacerbate her greatness, she is ranked sixth on the college basketball all-division, all-time scoring list. She did this in 139 games, averaging 28.4 points per game.
Clark is having a decent start to her WNBA career with the Fever, as she produced 19.2 points per game in her rookie season.
KEEP READING: Top 10 Women’s College Basketball Players Right Now
Watkins still has a long way to go before she matches this record. Although she is 2,451 points behind Clark, she is already showing signs. She already set the record for the freshman with the highest points haul, with 920 points last season.
This season, Watkins has already played 24 games, and she looks good to end the season on a high. The Trojans’ next game is against the Washington Huskies on Feb. 17, and Watkins will look to continue her impressive run.
But one thing is clear. Even if Watkins does not surpass Clark’s NCAA record, she has written her name in stone and will go on to do well in the WNBA.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
