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JuJu Watkins is rewriting the script for college basketball excellence. Just four games into her sophomore season at USC, the 19-year-old guard has ed an elite club, suring the 1,000-point milestone in her collegiate career.
Watkins achieved this feat in Friday's commanding 81-50 win over Santa Clara, a moment that further solidified her as one of the most exciting young players in the game.
Remarkably, Watkins reached the 1,000-point mark faster than Iowa's Caitlin Clark, the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I basketball.
Watkins reached 1,000 points in just 38 games, an achievement that puts her in rarified air.
By comparison, Clark needed 40 games to accomplish the same. Watkins now stands alongside basketball icons like Delaware's Elena Delle Donne and Weber State's Kathy Miller, who also hit the milestone in 38 games. Only a few, including LSU's Maree Jackson and Oregon State's Carol Menken, have done it faster, reaching the benchmark in 37 games.
Watkins' scoring prowess has been evident since her days as a standout high school player in California, where she earned multiple national Player of the Year honors.
Her transition to college basketball has been seamless. Finishing her freshman year with an incredible 920 points, Watkins has shown that her ability to dominate opponents transcends every level.
ing the 1,000-point club also places Watkins in the company of USC great Cheryl Miller, whose record 3,018 career points remain the benchmark for the Trojans.
Miller has become a mentor to Watkins, offering guidance on navigating the pressures of elite competition.
Ahead of Watkins' NCAA tournament debut earlier this year, Miller advised her to prioritize mental resilience over physical performance.
"I'm not worried about the physical. You're a young kid, and you're going to continue to grow into your body," Miller told Watkins.
"It's the mental fatigue that I worry from you. ... That's what I need from you, to find that quiet space."
Watkins building her legacy
The Trojans' victory over Santa Clara pushed their record to 4-0 this season, with Watkins continuing to shine as the team's centerpiece.
As USC prepares to face Notre Dame on November 23, the sophomore's rapid scoring pace has left fans and analysts wondering just how high she can climb in the record books.
While Caitlin Clark remains a household name and the standard-bearer for NCAA scoring, JuJu Watkins is proving she's more than ready to take on the mantle of greatness.
With each game, she's not just closing the gap but creating a legacy that could eclipse even the most celebrated players. At just 19, Watkins has the basketball world at her feet-and she's only just begun.