USC stand-out freshman guard JuJu Watkins threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Los Angeles Dodgers vs Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim game on Saturday. She is coming off a historic season with the USC women’s basketball team.
Watkins, a native of Watts, noted how she attended Dodgers games growing up. While she does not have experience playing baseball and admitted to being nervous, she had no problem throwing a stellar first pitch.
USC star JuJu Watkins throws out the first pitch for the Dodgers vs Angels game pic.twitter.com/mbU7KO5Pde
— Amanda Scurlock (@Amandtastic) June 23, 2024
“To be able to throw the first pitch is a dream come true,” Watkins said. “I never thought a moment like this would happen, the Dodgers play such a big role in LA.”
Watkins helped bring the Women of Troy back into national prominence, keeping them in the top 10 of the AP women’s basketball poll for most of the 2023-2024 season. One of her many memorable moments was when the Women of Troy defeated Baylor in the Sweet Sixteen 74-70. Watkins scored 30 points, six rebounds, four assists and four blocks in the contest.
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“That one was crazy,” Watkins said. “Just being in the tournament, that environment, the crowd is something that I want to look forward to every year.”
With 920 points, Watkins became the highest scoring freshman in Division I history and the second-leading scorer in the nation. Her efforts would make her a Wooden Award All-American and the Tamika Catchings Award winner.
Watkins scored over 30 points in 14 games making her the USC record-holder for the most 30+ games for both the men’s and women’s programs. One was her debut at USC where she scored 32 points against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Another highlight was when Watkins scored 51 points against Stanford, the Women of Troy won 67-58. In the game, Watkins had the highest score of any other college basketball player this season.
One improvement she noticed in her game is her ability to adapt.
“I take pride in that, I feel like a lot of things get thrown at me sometimes,” Watkins said. “I’m still working on it but just being able to adjust within the game.”
Watkins aspires to improve her efficiency and win a national championship.
