Eyeing Glory From Day 1, JuJu Watkins’ LeBron James-Backed Debut Receives Shoutout From the Legend Herself

The NCAA season of 2024 has finally arrived. Despite having the second-worst offense in the Pac-12 the previous season, the USC Trojans were placed No. 21 in the preseason poll going into this one. At the Hall of Fame Series, however, the Trojans went on to defeat Ohio State, ranked seventh. In the first game of the season, the squad welcomed a new player named JuJu Watkins, who went on to etch her name in the history books from day one.

LeBron James too praised her basketball prowess. And so, JuJu Watkins’ nerve-wracking debut in the NCAA season opener was the catalyst for it all. She turned her athletic resilience into her dream of stardom, just like every sportsperson. With that, her predecessor in the Alma mater, the Trojan legend, has proclaimed her with a shout.

The Trojan legend hailed Juju Watkins as a paragon

In her rookie debut against Ohio, JuJu Watkins scored 32 points, two more than Trojans star Lisa Leslie. Her performance has improved the USC Trojans, for sure. Leslie was another highly sought-after recruit from Los Angeles, much like Watkins. She could follow in Lisa Leslie’s footsteps if she can continue to live up to the similarities.

Lisa Leslie, the Trojan icon, gave a great shout-out to Juju Watkins on her Twitter handle as she wrote, “Yessss!LA all day! DJ… Keep the party rolling! Congrats, boo, @Jujubballin. It’s only the beginning. Fight on!!!”

Post-game Watkins remarked, “Just the comfort of being home and having the system to really support you. I couldn’t have done it without my coach and without my teammates. The confidence they have in me and her extraordinary performance caught the eye of Lebron James, who heartily praised her.

Read More: Don’t Underestimate USC”: Freshman JuJu Watkins Sends a Warning to NCAA Teams After a 32-Point Historic Banger

The King praises the soldier of Troy

In the season’s first game, the USC Trojans defeated Ohio State 83-74 to celebrate JuJu Watkins’ college debut. #21 USC now leads #7 Ohio State as a result of this victory. NBA star LeBron James, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers and is accustomed to high-pressure debuts, praised Watkins’ exceptional performance on Instagram.

“What do y’all expect? She LIKES THAT!” James screamed in her Instagram story. Beyond mere self-gratification, Watkins’ accomplishment was a historic occasion that eclipsed the mark set by basketball icon Lisa Leslie for the USC women’s basketball debut.

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