"My goal is to use my voice more": USC's JuJu Watkins describes her new role as a leader to Trojans' freshmen

High-scoring USC guard JuJu Watkins is gradually becoming a leader for the Trojans. She has been given a new role for the 2024-25 women's basketball season – to try and help the freshmen adjust to their new environment as collegiate players by giving them inputs to become a better version of themselves.

The incoming sophomore explained her new task on the "Best of Both Worlds with Flau'jae" podcast, which aired on Sept. 5. Watkins, the team's leading scorer last season, shared to host and LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson that her role is to help the new players develop their game as they prepare for the 2024-25 season, which is set to begin in the first week of November.

USC has seven incoming freshmen for this year's campaign.

"We got a lot of freshmen so I had to share my experiences and help them become a better version of themselves. I got my vets that I can learn from. But I think my goal is to use my voice more," Watkins said.

(from 17:55 mark onwards)

The 6-foot-2 guard acknowledged that everything is different from last year and the additional role she is given attests to that:

"I didn't really use it last year because I'm a freshman coming into [college]. I got to hype up the team when we needed. It's kind of like, get the team hyped up but also give your opinion on this. Just give more input [into the game]," she added.

(from 18:18 mark onwards)

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JuJu Watkins gets reinforcements for USC's 2024-25 campaign

Watkins provided impressive numbers for USC's campaign last season, averaging 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.6 blocks on 40.1% shooting to gain a First Team All-American nod. However, she lacked support with only McKenzie Forbes and Rayah Marshall contributing to the Trojans' cause.

That lack of production proved costly as they fell to UConn in the Elite Eight. This year, things could be different as USC moves to the Big 10 from Pac-12, and the team has strengthened its lineup with the additions of Stanford transfer Kiki Iriafen and former Oregon State playmaker Talia von Oelhoffen.

Watkins and double-double machine Marshall should reprise their roles on the team as they seek to dominate the Big 10 despite the presence of Ohio State, Iowa, Indiana and UCLA.

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Will the JuJu Watkins-led USC continue its impressive run from last season in a new conference? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.