LOS ANGELES (AP) – JuJu Watkins and Isaiah Collier made historical past earlier than stepping onto the Galen Center courtroom for his or her first basketball video games with Southern California.
Last November’s bulletins by Watkins and Collier that they’d be attending USC marked the primary time the highest consensus males’s and ladies’s highschool recruits determined to attend the identical college in the identical season.
“I think it’s a credit to both programs. They’ve been elevated over the last few years to be able to attract high-level recruits, including JuJu and Isaiah. And I think both are special talents,” males’s coach Andy Enfield mentioned.
Watkins introduced her dedication on Nov. 15, 2022, and Collier made his intentions identified in the future later. They bought an opportunity to fulfill one another on the McDonald’s All-American Game in March.
While Watkins is a Los Angeles native and elected to remain house, Collier is from Atlanta and chosen the Trojans over ACC and SEC packages.
“We’ve been considered a football school for so long. I think the program has set a foundation that we’re working towards by getting the basketball program here what it used to be for women,” Watkins mentioned. “We both have great programs and are honestly the place to be. I’m just glad to be a part of it.”
So far, each have been dwelling as much as the hype.
Watkins is averaging 27.3 factors, second within the nation solely to Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, with 5 30-point video games in her first seven contests with the No. 6 Trojans. She’s additionally the primary USC participant since Cheryl Miller to have three straight 30-point outings.
Collier’s 17.3 factors per recreation is third nationally amongst freshmen. His 138 factors by way of USC’s first eight video games is essentially the most by a Trojans freshman since O.J. Mayo had 168 in 2007-08.
Fans may be stunned that USC is the primary college to land two high recruits, however Enfield and ladies’s coach Lindsay Gottlieb have established stable foundations as they transfer from the Pac-12 Conference to the Big Ten subsequent 12 months.
Enfield’s first-year class – together with Bronny James, Arrinten Page, and Brandon Gardner – was his third top-10 recruiting class since 2019. Enfield, who’s in his eleventh season at USC, has additionally seen seven gamers go on to the NBA since 2018, together with Isaiah Mobley.
The Trojans have certified for the NCAA Tournament three straight years for under the second time at school historical past. That included an look within the Elite Eight in 2021.
Gottlieb is in her third season after a two-year stint as an assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers. She was the primary feminine school head coach employed as an NBA assistant after eight years at California, which included a Women’s Final Four journey in 2012.
“When you think of USC, the first thing you think is football, but the basketball programs are really hot right now,” Gottlieb mentioned. “I think it’s an incredible school, so there’s no reason that I think every top athlete wouldn’t consider us. And for both programs to get the top player, we are both embracing it.”
Watkins’ arrival has marked a turning level for a ladies’s program that was a nationwide energy within the Eighties and early ’90s. The Trojans (7-0) are sixth in The Associated Press Top 25, their highest rating since 1994.
Last season, the Women of Troy made their first NCAA Tournament look since 2014.
“For coach to come in and almost immediately have an impact and be able to make it to the tournament, it’s a tribute to what could happen in the future. That made me even more confident in my decision,” Watkins mentioned.
Collier ranks fifth amongst freshmen in free throws made with 36 and fifth in assists per recreation (4.5). However, the Trojans (4-3) have struggled because of accidents. They’ve dropped out of the rankings, and are coming off an 89-76 loss final Saturday in opposition to No. 7 Gonzaga.
“It’s a learning curve, so I’m still learning from everything,” Collier mentioned.
The video games Sunday will characteristic a uncommon doubleheader. The males host Long Beach State in what might be James’ USC debut after he suffered cardiac arrest throughout a exercise in July. The ladies will face UC Riverside.
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AP school basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
