JuJu Watkins and the USC Trojans are floating on cloud nine right now. Their impeccable conference play has left them impenetrable this season, with Watkins leading the front. The six-two point guard is averaging nearly 25 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, on decent efficiency from the field. USC’s recent annihilation of Purdue speaks to the mettle and quality of the Trojans. A 79-37 victory is nothing to scoff at, truly, with USC scoring more than double of what the Boilers did! With how Watkins is playing, and how dominant the Trojans are, NPOY honors do seem to be on the cards for the sophomore guard.

On ESPN’s Countdown to Gameday, show hosts Ari Chambers, Taylor Tannebaum, and Kelly Gramlich discuss the POTY race. “Her composure alone is enough to sell me, but her offensive ability has always been great,” said Chambers, showering praise upon the USC star. “She is the fastest one to 1000 points, she’s gotten better year over year in efficiency. She has cut down her turnovers, just sharpening her game this year. It’s been a joy to watch because now it’s just a matter of detail and how to get your teammates involved.”

Kelly Gramlich chimed in with a comparison to Hannah Hidalgo from Notre Dame, and how much pressure is on the both of them. “Hidalgo can have a little more of an off game and generally Notre Dame is fine.” The reporter said about the Notre Dame star, before emphasizing the difference in USC’s priorities. “But for Southern Cal, they need JuJu to show up every night, so she’s embraced that. And to think that she’s playing even better than her historic freshman year.”

However, Watkins performing so well draws attention away from the pieces around her as well. One such piece is Kiki Iriafen, a transfer from Stanford. The six-foot-three forward is playing exceptionally well, averaging 17 and 8 from over 50% from field. “If she’s at the top, drawing all the attention, then Kiki is having her way!” Chambers said, the words ringing true.

USC is currently undefeated in the Big Ten, with the Bruins hot on their tail. The Trojans next go up against Minnesota on the 30th, with every win being crucial from this point on. They need to hold on to the momentum, and keep a foot on the gas.

JuJu Watkin’s efficiency: No longer a concern?

Watkins is a well-rounded player. She is skilled in every aspect of the game and provides a very large impact on the floor. However, there was one aspect of her game which was criticized during her phenomenal rookie year—her efficiency.

Now, let’s get it straight: JuJu Watkins is not inefficient. Last season, she averaged a mind-boggling 27 points and 7 assists, with nearly 2.5 steals and a block and a half. Impressive numbers at any level. What analysts had an issue with, however, was the fact that her shooting percentages were nearing 40. That is a little too low for someone like Watkins, with all the expectations and stardom thrust upon her.

Luckily, the big guard heard the concerns. Now that she’s a fair bit into her sophomore season, we can safely say that Watkins put in the hard yards during her off time. Her field goal percentage rose by a whopping 5%! The USC guard had been averaging just under 32% from three last season. This season, however, Watkins is shooting at a relatively high clip of 35%.

If her game keeps exploding like this and the effort remains consistent, Watkins has the potential to become one of the greatest collegiate athletes of all time. On top of that, a pro career seems almost inevitable, given how highly talented she is. Despite the challenges and tragedy this season, Watkins has truly shined. As for her odds for Player of the Year (POTY), it’s hard to bet against her. Will she take home the award? Only time will tell, but with the trajectory she’s on, she’s certainly a strong contender.