Not long after the final buzzer rang on USC’s last season, freshman All-American Juju Watkins was ready for the next one.
Still on the court, in tears at the end of an unexpected Elite 8 run, she said “I’m just excited for next year.”
From the looks of a high-spirited, intense practice last week, it looks like Watkins’ returning and new teammates feel the same way. Seamless rotations of offensive scrimmage drills were punctuated with a lot of on-court communication, as burgeoning chemistry showed.
The Trojans, who open their season Monday in a Paris tournament, couldn’t be more thrilled to get going.
“It’s been fun – it’s been really exciting,” fourth-year coach Lindsay Gottlieb said of team practices over the last month. “But halfway through an extended training camp, players are getting antsy.”
There’s a lot to look forward to, as Watkins and five other returners have nine new teammates as they enter their first season in the Big Ten Conference. And coming off of a deep NCAA Tournament run, USC is hungry for more.
“The stage has been elevated, and expectations are elevated for all of us,” Gottlieb said of her team, which is ranked No. 3 in the AP preseason poll. “There’s definitely a target on our backs, and we’re ready for it.”
Watkins broke the national freshman scoring record last year, as well as numerous school records, and is an early favorite for player of the year in 2024-2025. In fulfilling a dream of helping bring the program back to the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 for the first since in 30 years, the Los Angeles native averaged 27.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.29 assists per game.
In Watkins’ debut a year ago, she lead the Trojans over No. 7 Ohio State, with 32 points. At Stanford in February, she put up a mind-blowing, career-high 51 points. She said she was motivated to develop her game this past summer because she has title dreams.
“I love the work, and I definitely have a lot to work on,” Watkins said. “I always believe I can go a step further every time, and I love the game so much and expect the best of myself and my team. I know its gong to take a lot of work to get a championship, but everyone has bought in here.”
Gottlieb said she’s noticed the difference in Watkins.
“She’s come into this gym as a better player, and the game has slowed down for her,” Gottlieb said. “She’s picking apart defenses, has lead us in assists in every practice, and is still being a scoring threat at all times. She has found her voice a bit, and has been able to be more vocal as well. It’s been fun to see.”
Watkins also seems to exude more confidence, and she said she is trying to guide the team’s seven freshmen in the same way she was as a newbie.
“As a freshman, I didn’t know much coming in here,” she said. “Now I have a better idea of what’s coming, and I’m trying to prepare my teammates who were in my position last year as much as possible, and give them my perspective and encouragement.”
Alongside Watkins is senior center/forward starter Rayah Marshall (10.2 ppg, 10.5 rpg), senior center reserve Clarice Akunwafo (2.1 ppg, 3 rpb), sophomore guards Malia Samuels and Aaliyah Gayles, and junior guard Dominique Darius.
Though they lost three starters last season, USC has two high-caliber replacements in graduate transfers Kiki Iriafen and Talia von Oelhoffen.
Iriafen was Stanford’s top scorer as a junior, with 19.4 points and 11 rebounds per game. She went off for a career-high 41 points in the NCAA Tournament. At Oregon State, von Oelhoffen averaged 11.2 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds per game and helped the Beavers make an unexpected appearance in the Elite 8.
Gottlieb said the Trojans are lucky to have them.
“They are critical grad transfers for us because they had a lot of experience, and a lot of experience winning, which is unique in college basketball,” she said. “They are really dynamic players who are not afraid to lead. They mesh well with Juju, and they bring a veteran presence that mixes well with the youth that we have.”
Iriafen said the move to Troy has been a change from former Cardinal coach Tara VanDerveer’s structure, to what she calls the professional style of Gottlieb, which has given her more flexibility.
“It’s given me better basketball IQ, and here there are so many great players that I’m just (working on) finding that flow in the offense,” Iriafen said. “I don’t have to score all the time, so I can (also) rebound and play defense.”
“It’s been a lot less pressure for me being here. I’m just trying to have fun in my senior year.”
The combination of Watkins and Iriafen is something that excites coaches and players alike.
“We get along super-great,” Iriafen said of her teammate. “She has a great work ethic…..if anything, we’re playing off of each other and letting each other doing our own thing. But we’re also looking for each other.”
Marshall and Akunwafo, with Iriafen, means that the Trojans will have post depth. Iriafen said playing with Marshall, who is also a Los Angeles native, has made her a better player.
“Rayah has pushed me,” Iriafen said. “It’s not easy going against her in practice – she’s very physical. She’s someone who can really do the job.”
USC’s freshman roster is one reason that Iriafen said the team is “a threat from 1-15.” Guard Kennedy Smith, who was the Gatorade California player of the year last season, has made a strong early impression. Gottlieb said she can play both sides of the ball.
“I haven’t seen a freshman as advanced defensively as she is,” Gottlieb said. “What makes her special is that she’s an elite offensive talent, but she’s just as comfortable making the assist.”
Guard Avery Howell, from Boise, was named an alternate on the Canadian Olympic team last summer.
“She’s tough, learns quickly and shoots the ball well,” Gottlieb said.
Kayleigh Heckel, from New York, is another guard who promises to make some noise, after scoring 2,400 points in high school and being named a McDonald’s All-American. Other newcomers include forwards Vivian Iwuchuckwu and Laura Williams, and guards Brooklyn Shamblin and Rian Forestier.
Gottlieb is no stranger to reassembling rosters, as this is her third reconstructed team since she took the helm in Troy. But because of the steps the program took last year, and due to the presence of Watkins, the stakes are higher now.
“This is a different team personnel-wise, but the culture remains the same,” Gottlieb said. “The bar was raised the second last season ended. We want to be one of the best teams in the country, and we’re trying to build off those habits. We’re seeing competitive excellence every day.”
Watkins said everyone on the roster feels a sense of urgency going into the year.
“We’re really starting to learn each other and build a lot of chemistry, and I’m excited to see where we end up,” she said. “Everyone here can hoop, and I’m excited to play with them.”
Gottlieb said she loves the direction in which her “young players and great veterans” are heading.
“The culture in the gym is a lot of people who care about winning, and a lot of people who care about spending extra time in the gym,” she said. “We’re definitely a unique mix of youthful energy.”
Iriafen characterizes the team’s style as “very fast-paced, and aggressive on defense.”
“You can expect anyone to go out and get a bucket, not just relying on two or three people, and just having a lot of fun. We joke around and have fun, but we know when to really lock in. There’s a lot of love, a lot of fun, and then – showtime!”
USC kicks off the season against No. 20 Ole Miss in Paris, France on Monday at 9 a.m. PT, on ESPN.
