“He’s always 1 step ahead”: JuJu Watkins appreciates DeMar DeRozan’s insights while reacting to praise

USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins shared that Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan possesses a multilayered understanding of the game and has an upper hand in defense.

Watkins was coached by DeRozan at USC last month. In an interview with Ashley Nicole of CBS Sports, the USC guard was asked about the tactics DeRozan taught her. Watkins didn't share the details but was all praise for the Kings' star forward.

“He’s so smart," she said. "I never realized how many layers of the game he has in his mind. He is always one step ahead of his defense, so, just for him to share little things like that with me, it means so much. And then I’m just able to go back to the lab and work on those stuff.”

Nicole shared that she asked DeRozan why JuJu Watkins was special and read the response she got:

“Her hunger and her drive to want to be special. The attention to detail, knowledge, and preparation she puts into the game watched her since she was in the eighth grade so humble and willing to work ask questions carry herself with no ego but has a killer instinct when it's time to win she for sure is one of one."

JuJu Watkins burst on the college basketball scene last season and was the second-highest scorer in the NCAA tournament after Caitlin Clark. In the 34 games she played, Watkins averaged 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

DeMar DeRozan tightlipped about his tricks of trade JuJu Watkins learned

After DeMar DeRozan traveled to his alma mater USC, to have a workout session with Watkins, the training clip of the two went viral. In the clip, DeRozan showed Watkins how to distract the opponent while scoring.

Later while appearing in the "Podcast P with Paul George", DeRozan was asked about secrets he handed over to the USC star. The Sacramento Kings star too didn't go into the details but predicted that Watkins would be deadlier in the upcoming season.

"Me just giving her different looks of knowing how she goin' be played this upcoming year. Because she killed everybody last year. So, now everybody goin' be prepared on how to guard her. So, all the cool s**t wasn't seen," DeRozan said.

"She gotta shared that. I can't share ... She's special, I can't wait what she do in college and I can't wait to see how she change women's basketball."

After the departure of top stars from college basketball like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, all the attention has zoomed into how JuJu Watkins will perform in the season ahead.

Do you think JuJu Watkins will overtake Caitlin Clark as the all-time leading NCAA Division I scorer? Let us know in the comments section below.