USC students are simultaneously interested in and excited for the potential impact of two highly recruited basketball prospects in freshmen Isaiah Collier and JuJu Watkins.
Collier, who was a consensus five-star recruit, is a 6-foot-4-inch point guard who attended Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia. In the USC men’s team’s season opener last Monday, Collier posted 18 points, three rebounds and six assists in an 82-69 win over Kansas State, a neutral site matchup that was played in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena.
JuJu Watkins, who was also a consensus five-star recruit, is a 6-foot guard who attended Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles. Monday’s season opener for the women’s team, which was played at T-Mobile Arena as well, saw Watkins put up an impressive statline, with 32 points and six rebounds to go along with five assists in an upset win over No. 7 Ohio State.
Both the men’s and women’s teams were ranked No. 21 in the nation coming into the 2023-24 season because of the expected impact the two freshmen will have.
Cinema and media studies major Jordan Renville, who was in attendance at both season openers as a photographer and videographer, said he thought the two freshmen accounted for more than simply skills and statistics.
“Obviously, they bring skill and their basketball prowess to the team,” Renville said. “But I also think they bring a sense of leadership. They’re freshmen so they’re still getting their feet wet, but from what I saw in Vegas, they really know how to take charge of the game and control their teammates and make sure that everyone’s moving the ball, spreading it out. So, they do add that sense of leadership coupled with the veteran presences that we already have on the teams.”
Miles Freeman, an aerospace engineering major, holds Collier in high regard.
“I think that he’s really special. I think he’s got a really bright future,” Freeman said. “He’s a freshman, but he’s already come in and had a huge impact, … so I think wherever he goes he’s going to produce.”
Samer Zidan, a history major who is on the premed track, felt similarly to Freeman, emphasizing Collier’s rank in his class.
“He’s the No. 1 recruit coming out of his class,” Zidan said. “I feel like he is going to make a big impact. From what I saw, his game is pretty good. I feel like, if he gets his shot down, he’ll be really good this year. He’s going to make the most impact, I believe, in college hoops.”
When it comes to Watkins, journalism major Marissa Russ was impressed by the women’s No. 1 overall recruit’s first collegiate game.
“I love JuJu,” Russ said. “I wasn’t expecting her to pop off as good as she did. I think she brings a big offensive presence to the Trojans and I think she is going to help them take that next step they need to get up to levels like South Carolina.”
On the other hand, Watkins interests communications major Jenna Byrne for more than what she brings to the team in terms of skill.
“I love her personality, as far as what I have seen on social media, and I think she is incredibly talented,” Byrne said. “I think she is going to do amazing. I think she meshes really well with the team.”
In the women’s team’s home opener on Friday, Watkins scored 18 points in addition to recording seven rebounds and two assists in a 67-51 win over Florida Gulf Coast.
For the men’s team, who played their home opener on Thursday, Collier tallied 19 points, three rebounds and five assists in an 85-59 win over CSU Bakersfield.
Along with Collier and Watkins, another highly recruited USC basketball freshman who has garnered a substantial amount of attention coming into this season is Bronny James, son of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.
James is a 6-foot-3 point guard who was a four-star recruit and the No. 20 player in the class of 2023, according to the ESPN 100. Like Watkins, James also played high school basketball at Sierra Canyon. Currently sidelined for an undisclosed amount of time after having suffered cardiac arrest during a practice on July 25, James hopes to return to action sometime this season when healthy.
For Russ, the possibilities are limitless with Collier and Watkins at the helm.
“You know I think the sky’s the limit right now,” Russ said. “There’s a lot of other freshmen in their classes that really showed out during the opening games this week. So there’s a lot of other freshmen in their classes who might be big contenders for the title but I think the sky’s the limit. I think we can get a natty with them.”