Can USC repeat the ‘Women of Troy’ greatness? Last season, the USC Trojans performed their best since 1994, finishing with an overall record of 29–6 and a 13–5 mark in Pac-12 conference play. While the name on everyone’s mind was JuJu Watkins, now there’s one more- Kiki Iriafen. However, her skills aren’t just going to make her an asset to the California-based program. In fact, her presence might just solve one of JuJu’s only soft spots on the stats sheet, too.

The 19-year-old is pumped about what Iriafen’s arrival means for her game, specifically her assists. “She amazes me every day. I just throw the ball up literally, and she catches it, so a lot of easy assists from her,” she admits while talking about their pick-and-roll action. 

She couldn’t be here at a better time. JuJu’s freshman year was a standout one as she averaged an impressive 27.1 points, only following the Iowa sensation Caitlin Clark in the ppg last season. She also helped the Trojans with 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals. The Californian was a defensive star with 1.6 blocks per game as well. But her assists? At 3.3 per game, they were lower than expected for a player who drives the offense. 

She mostly leaned heavily on scoring. But with extra defensive attention, her assist numbers suffered. But thankfully, now, with Kiki as a go-to option for critical passes, the guard can rack up more assists. Moreover, both of them are honing their skills and understanding each other’s game during practices.

“And I’m just learning so much from her, learning where she likes the ball and whatnot, so we’re building that camaraderie, and it will continue to get better throughout the year,” the USC star said during preseason practice media interaction.

Their growing friendship is quite evident as they often post each other on social media. In no time, they have become pals, which was also evident during the Big Ten Media Day as they shared a fun moment after a handshake mix-up. And do you know JuJu was the reason Kiki chose USC?

How JuJu Watkins influenced Kiki’s USC arrival

The USC Trojans head coach Lindsay Gottlieb shared a big secret. “JuJu was a huge step for us to get her into our program. To have now another legit National Player of the Year type candidate come and say, ‘I want to play with JuJu,’… I think says a lot,” she revealed.

Gottlieb has huge hopes for both players, noting that Kiki has a ‘top-three pick in the WNBA’ future. She couldn’t be happier with her joining USC, even if it’s just for a single season. Previously, as a junior at Stanford, she dominated with 19.4 points and 11 rebounds per game.

Her face-up game, physicality in the post, and scoring efficiency (over 50% from the field) make her the ideal partner for Watkins. Together, they could create a lethal pairing that could lead USC to its most remarkable season in decades.

Talking about their gameplays, JuJu’s shooting range and ability to drive the offense is top-notch, while Kiki’s presence under the basket provides inside scoring and defensive rebounding. So, are you ready to see the Hoopers bring their best game to the court?