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JuJu Watkins is currently seen by many as one of the best players in college basketball. However, sports commentator Jason Whitlock had some thoughts to share about the USC star.
Whitlock uploaded a YouTube video of his podcast from Dec. 4. The main topic was why Watkins doesn't have the huge support that Caitlin Clark had during her collegiate career at Iowa.
"She committed to Iowa," Whitlock observed. "She didn’t go to UConn. She didn’t go to Tennessee. She didn’t go to South Carolina. She didn’t go to Stanford. She didn’t go to one of the powerhouse schools with a huge brand. And some mega star coach.
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"She stayed at home in the state of Iowa where she had this local hometown following and this narrative, ‘Oh, an Iowa girl is staying home and is going to play for Iowa. This is marvelous.’ That gave her a foundation of fan support," Whitlock said.
While JuJu Watkins does have the local advantage as she plays in her home state of California, Whitlock doesn't see this as a major positive. He pointed out one drawback to being in the most populated state in the United States.
“They have everything to distract you in Los Angeles,” he noted.
Fans were quick to respond to Whitlock's takes, having mixed opinions. They seem to believe that JuJu Watkins has the ability to match up to Clark's support while seeing the reasons that the former Iowa star gained her popularity. Here are some of their reactions.
"JuJu Watkins doesn’t elevate the players around her like Caitlin Clark does. Way too ball dominant and that style doesn’t lead to winning," one fan said.
"Exactly this. Caitlin Clark embodies the 'Cinderella' story. She may not have grown up with challenges but she effectively took the hardest road. She stayed and played for a non-powerhouse school and still managed to get her team to the biggest stage despite not having all the help and talent the other powerhouse schools had in droves ... ," one explained.
"Something you are missing, she gave back to her community, started after school programs for kids, established a organization that raised money and has built up through churches and schools where she looks after elderly too. That is what makes it for me, she has Grace. Catlin Clark Foundation," another wrote.
Others thought about Whitlock changing his argument because Watkins does play in her hometown.
"Jason had to switch his whole argument when he realized Juju is playing not only her home state team but hometown too," a fan remarked.
"It’s because juju is apart of the sisterhood. She said angel Reese was roty, she said Aja was the reason why the wnba was succeeding. She’s gonna dig herself in a hole of becoming unlikable," one explained.
"There’s no one in the immediate horizon that compares to the true generational player that Caitlin Clark is. If she was out there, we’d see her already. Putting these girls forth as a CC replacement is ridiculous, please stop," one fan stated.
JuJu Watkins recently set a program record this season
While JuJu Watkins progresses in building her local support, she is continuing to make a lot of noise with her performances for the USC Trojans.
Her last showing against California Baptist on Dec. 3 was a major example. She scored 40 points in the Trojans' 94-52 blowout victory, converting nine 3-pointers as she set a new program record.
JuJu Watkins and the No. 6 Trojans will play on the road against Oregon at the Matthew Knight Arena on Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. ET next.
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