The NCAA season opener has set the tone for the upcoming matches. The USC Trojans secured the match against Ohio State Buckeyes, with a final score of 83-74. In this college contest, USC player JuJu Watkins played a crucial role in helping her team win, as she dropped 32 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Left mesmerized by Watkins’ performance, NBA superstar LeBron James took to social media to show his support for the freshman.  

King James hails college star

After witnessing one of the most impressive performances in college basketball by a freshman, NBA star LeBron James took to his Instagram stories to cheer for Watkins. 

In his story, James uploaded a post of Watkins and captioned it with, “What y’all expect! She LIKE THAT!!!” and “LFG.”

Getting praised by the NBA icon is a testament to the extraordinary talent of JuJu Watkins. In her first game with USC itself, she showed the world why she was so hyped. And as the season unfolds, fans will be keeping their eye on the freshman to watch her extraordinary skills at work. 

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Notably, JuJu Watkins was making waves in the basketball community before coming of age with her NCAA performance.

A rising star

Born in July 2005, Watkins showed her interest in the sport at the age of seven. She trained under the guidance of Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach, Phil Handy, who played a pivotal role in shaping her game. From high school, she started to catch the attention of the world with her impressive skills. As a freshman, she averaged 21 points and 9 rebounds per game, which she boosted to 27.3 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game as a senior. 

She earned recognition as Gatorade National Player of the Year and Naismith Prep Player of the Year, making her a five-star recruit and ranked as the number one player in the 2023 class by ESPN. According to On3 Elite, her NIL valuation stands at $178K and deals with big companies like Nike, Lids, and many more. 

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Last year, Watkins announced her commitment to the USC Trojans, where she is playing as a guard. Her outstanding performance in her first game, promises that the future is bright for this rising star.